Posted on 10/14/2006 3:41:13 PM PDT by Pokey78
The 2012 London Olympics have been plunged into controversy by the discovery that the Games will clash with Ramadan, the most holy month in the Islamic calendar.
The clash will put Muslim athletes at a disadvantage as they will be expected to fast from sunrise to sunset for the entire duration of the Games.
In 2012, Ramadan will take place from July 21 to August 20, while the Olympics run from July 27 to August 12.
An anticipated 3,000 Muslim competitors are expected to be affected.
About a quarter of the 11,099 athletes who took part in the 2004 Athens Olympics came from countries with predominantly Muslim populations.
Because the Muslim calendar is based on a lunar cycle, the ninth month of Ramadan - which runs from the appearance of one new crescent moon to the next - gets earlier by around 11 days each year.
The clash will be a huge embarrassment for Lord Coe, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, and London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who have been keen to ensure the Games involve all Britain's ethnic communities.
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission, said: "They would not have organised this at Christmas. It is equally stupid to organise it at Ramadan.
"It shows a complete lack of awareness and sensitivity.
"This is going to disadvantage the athletes and alienate the Asian communities by saying they don't matter.
"It's not only going to affect the participants it's going to affect all the people who want to watch the Games.
"They won't want to travel during Ramadan and they won't want to watch sport. It's a spiritual time."
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, an imam on the Muslim Council of Great Britain, said: "I'm sure the athletes will seek advice from their scholars.
"They are obviously going to be at a disadvantage because other competitors will be drinking and keeping up their energy levels.
"But they are athletes and I am sure they will train their bodies to cope with this.
"A Muslim might feel it would have been nice to avoid this month but life doesn't stop for Muslims during Ramadan even though they are fasting.
"The best thing for a Muslim is to continue his or her life as normal. This is the real test."
The British Olympic Association is now planning a meeting with the organisers of London 2012 to discuss how the timing will affect UK Muslim athletes.
And Muslim countries such as Turkey are calling for the date to be changed.
Togay Bayalti, president of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey, said: "This will be difficult for Muslim athletes.
"They don't have to observe Ramadan if they are doing sport and travelling but they will have to decide whether it is important to them.
"It would be nice for the friendship of the Games if they had chosen a different date."
The International Olympics Committee insisted the Games take place some time between July 15 to August 31, giving more than a week either side of Ramadan.
IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said: "We give a window to the five bid cities. The host city selects the dates within that window.
"The Games bring together virtually every religion and creed. How to deal with religious clashes is up to the athletes."
Joanna Manning Cooper, spokeswoman for London 2012, said: "We did know about it when we submitted our bid and we have always believed we could find ways to accommodate it.
"We had lots of things to consider when we submitted our dates, including the fact that transport will be less crowded in the summer holiday.
"We also need 70,000 volunteers and this is the best time to find them.
"We are working with the Muslim Council of Great Britain to find ways to accommodate Ramadan during the London Games."
Oh, forget that, let's look at a globe.
OK, according to my careful calculations.... in approximately 1/2 of the world, summer is in December (and vicey-versy ;>)
Since when is summer in December you moron?
It could be worse, the itinerary for dinner every day could be pork as the main course.
When I think about all of the great Arabian sprinters, Syrian decathletes, and Iranian swimmers who won't be able to participate I start thinking there is a Zionist conspiracy afoot.
Probably President Bush and/or Karl Rove too.
(sigh) Let me be more precise:
"Since when is summer in December IN ENGLAND you moron?"
I didn't think I would have to explain that to anyone here at FR. Usually people are smart enough without the full commentary.
Starvin' muzzies are less likely to commit acts of terror. Bravo! I think this is brilliant planning on the part of the planners.
As long as we continue to compromise (give in), they will continue to complain.
Sorry, couldn't resist. Ah jez cain't hep mahsef! ;>)
Spray all the streets and sidewalks with cleaning detergents made using pork by-products
Including airport runways and inside floors of buildings
Next make sure the outside of windows and doors where Muslim businesses and apartments and homes are are also given the same spraying
Use it in jet deicing chemicals and food stores and car washes too
You know - that same stuff we use for those weird chemtrails that drift over Islamic countries from the edge of space.......
--
Oh
Let's not forget the UN and those dirty streets and sidewalks around all those mosques......
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Do they know what is in the soap they use?
Hmmmmmm.
Might be a good additive in their water reservoirs and lakes and rivers and in swimming pool conditioning chemicals too
And for spraying vegetable crops and grains, and fruit trees.....
For treating leather and clothing products -
Thanks for the post.
Now I have another entry to my ever-lengthing list of "Gripes of Muslims".
I imagine some Jews and Seventh Day Adventists will have to decide if they wish to compete on their sabath day, too.
Tradeoffs, priorities, etc.
I somehow recall Olympic or other athletes that decided to NOT compete on their sabath day.
But I don't recall them declaring the rest of the world should design the entire competition, to accomodate their special requirements.
Only the muslims are so loud and arrogant to expect such treatment.
Insofar as they are very much absent from most top flight athletic competitions, it won't affect the quality of the events. Maybe a runner from Algeria or Morrocco. A boxer or two from American ghettos/prisons.
Too busy complaining and terrorising, to train for excellence.
Yep, you muslims are just so GD'd special that everybody is supposed to change just for you. If you want to fast, bow down on your rug 6 times a day, bark at the moon, and go visit your dead relatives, fine! Just don't holler at me for not participating or sitting in my house with the shades drawn 24/7 during YOUR holidays.
Jeez, I think I'll go riot and sue the Jews for violating my civil rights because they had the audacity to be seen on the streets during Good Friday.
One more thing for the muslims. Here a big B-O-O H-O-O. Go grab a violin and sing me a sob story.
Spew! Good one!
I cant believe muslims are angry. Is this a typo?
So the Olympics Pig Chase will clash with Ramadan?
If the Olympics cave in to the muskies the world is further gone than I thought.
There has to be time for someone to stand up. Might as well do it so all I can say is "tough beans."
The solution is simple: Simply add events to the Olympics for which the Mus-slimes will be well prepared regardless of Ram-a-who-gives-a-damn.
Some suggestions might be: Race to behead as many as possible; camel riding; sheep-humping; Cut off hands and then feed-and-pee with one hand; 100 yard dash while wearing a burqa.
There must me lots more that they would enjoy.
Fun, isn't it? ;-)
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