Iranian Refuses to Race Israeli Swimmer

The Jerusalem Post ^ | August 9, 2008 | ALLON SINAI

[Free ThinkerNY]

Politics reared its ugly head at the Olympic Games once more on Saturday after an Iranian swimmer refused to compete alongside Israeli Tom Be'eri.

Mohammad Alirezaei was due to race against Be'eri in the fourth heat of the 100 meter breaststroke, but pulled out, apparently under the orders of the chiefs of the Iranian delegation.

"This isn't the first time this has happened and it doesn't surprise me anymore," Olympic Committee of Israel General Secretary Efraim Zinger told The Jerusalem Post. "Politics takes precedence over sport with the Iranians and the Olympic spirit is as far from them as east is far from west.

"My heart goes out to the Iranian athletes. In the Athens Olympics one of their sportsmen, who was a gold medal favorite, had to pull out because he was drawn against an Israeli.

"There's no place for this kind of behavior in the Olympic movement and it's a shame it continues."

In a superb opening day of racing for Israel's swimmers, which was sadly marred, the delegation's three competitors set two Israeli records and one personal best.

[Free ThinkerNY]

[goldstategop]

The Iranians would rather lose than swim with dirty Jews.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[GodGunsGuts]

They probably intended to make this Islamo-Nazi statement from the very beginning.

[gusopol3]

The IOC should immediately send the entire Iranian team packing.

[eyedigress]

Win or Die may give some pause.

[SECURE AMERICA]

I guess the Iranian did not think they could beat an actual human being.........

[Tennessee Nana]

Iranian Refuses to Race Israeli Swimmer
______________________________________________

Tell him he can swim the Marathon underwater the whole distance...

[BenLurkin]

Good grief — even the Nazis ran against Jesse Owens.

[rdl6989]

Afraid of being humiliated?

[goldstategop]

Exactly. The Iranians hate Jews - not just Israelis. I should clarify my sense of expression. They feel repelled by a living Jew, that being near one would contaminate them and make them feel soiled. That's why they want to eliminate Israel. Seriously, if Iran cannot abide the mere sight of a Jew, Israel's fears about Iran's intentions are far from groundless. And this is the premier world sporting event in which Iran puts into practice its visceral hatred of the Jew.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[eyedigress]

LOL! Maybe Iran could photo-shop his victory to the masses. :^)

[Free ThinkerNY]

Islamic Nazis want to finish what Hitler started. Their “religion” is worse than the Nazi ideology.

[hinckley buzzard]

Good grief — even the Nazis ran against Jesse Owens.

Yeah, but the Nazis thought they would win.

[goldstategop]

They don't accept Israel as a country or recognize the Jew is a human being. That's exactly the point. In a sane world, Iran would be expelled from the Olympics for its Nazi behavior, but it ain't gonna happen.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[LibWhacker]

Where’s the liberal outrage?

[GodGunsGuts]

And to think...not too long ago—before the so-called Islamic Revolution in Iran—Iran and Israel used to be pretty tight.

[goldstategop]

Where's the world's outrage? And why does the IOC not countenance the raw anti-Semitism and thuggish Nazi behavior towards Israel from the Iranian Olympic delegation? Gevalt!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[eyedigress]

We have someone to thank for that coddling.

[mimaw]

Think of the poor ba$tard Iranian swimmer if he lost to an Israeli. He'd probably be put to death.

[goldstategop]

Iran is led by a bunch of Armageddon-seeking fanatics. Its a shame they're given the honor of having a place in the civilized community of nations. I used to think this went out with the Second World War but nothing shocks me anymore.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus