‘Politicized sport’: Leader says West’s double standards evident in Paris Olympics, Paralympics
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamanei has deplored "double standards" employed by the countries ruling over international sports federations, saying that the flawed policies were starkly evident during the recently concluded 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in the French capital Paris.
Ayatollah Khamanei made the remarks on Tuesday in a meeting with a group of Iranian medalists, athletes, coaches and organizers of Iranian sports delegations to the international multi-sport events.
“One thing which was strongly noticeable this year at the Olympic Games was the dual policies of the countries regulating international sports matters. They really showed that double standards and biased policies govern their behaviors,” the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei added that certain countries banned a country because it had waged a war against another country, but they “refused to ban the Zionist regime from the Games despite the fact that it has killed thousands of children and massacred over 41,000 people in nearly a year,” lambasting such double standards as heavily biased.
“This is what we have long been saying. Some people tend to refer to our words as exaggeration. It is no exaggeration. They assert that sports should not be politicized. This is while they take and exhibit the most politicized actions in the field of sports,” the Leader noted.
Iran ranked first among West Asian countries in terms of the total number of medals at the Paris Olympics and was recognized as the best-performing country in terms of medals per athlete.
Iran's total of 12 medals included 3 golds, 6 silvers, and 3 bronzes.
In Paris Paralympics, Iran finished in 14th place with a total of 25 medals, including 8 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze.
🇮🇷🥇Beit Sayah's gold in men's javelin throw F41 at the Paris Paralympics has been snatched away for displaying a religious flag (with name of Hazrat Ummal Baneen) as part of celebrations.#Paralympic2024 pic.twitter.com/EiQdmIkeNv
— Press TV at Paris Paralympics (@presstvsports) September 7, 2024
In yet another controversial move at the Paris games, Iranian para athlete Beit Sayyah, who clinched a gold medal and set a new Paralympic record in the men's javelin throw F41 class, was disqualified.
In a shocking decision, Sayyah had his medal snatched away for displaying a religious flag during his victory celebration.
Sports analysts assert that the action amounted to politicization of the Olympic Games at the behest of French authorities.
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