Iran Awards 120,000 Dollars To Judo Champion For Not Fighting An Israeli

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Iran Awards 120,000 Dollars To Judo Champion For Not Fighting An Israeli

Posted: 8/30/2004 9:31:16 AM EDT

This is what we call a win-win situation. Don't fight the Israeli thereby avoiding a public ass-kicking and then have the mullahs pay you anyway.

www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=25757

Iran Awards 120,000 Dollars To Judo Champion For Not Fighting An Israeli
AFP: 8/28/2004

TEHRAN, Aug 28 (AFP) - Iran's official sporting body has awarded 120,000
dollars to its world judo champion Arash Miresmaeili for refusing to fight
an Israeli during the Athens Olympics, a newspaper report said Saturday.

"Miresmaeili's act was extremely valuable, and therefore we are awarding him
the gold medalist award," the head of the Iranian Physical Education
Organisation, Mohsen Mehralizadeh, was quoted as saying in the official
daily Iran.

The sum is the same amount awarded to Hossein Rezazadeh, who won a gold
medal in weightlifting.

The paper said the Iranian National Olympics Committee had also given
Miresmaeli its gold medalist cash payout of 5,000 dollars for what they also
termed as a "valuable action."

Miresmaeili's move was praised by Iran's President Mohammad Khatami, who
said the snub was a "great act of self-sacrifice" and a protest against
"massacre, terrorism and usurpation".

Miresmaeili, who was bidding to become the first Iranian to win an Olympic
judo medal, said he was refusing to fight an Israeli as a gesture of support
for the Palestinians.

The 23-year-old, twice a winner of the flyweight world title, opted not to
take on first round opponent Ehud Vaks of Israel.

But he was later eliminated from the competition when he failed to make the
weight for the planned contest in Athens. He was two kilograms (4.4 pounds)
overweight.

Although he was suspected of intentionally gaining body weight to avoid
fighting an Israeli opponent, the International Judo Federation (IJF) said
he will not be punished.

The IJF also said Thursday that the 23-year-old Iranian, who carried his
country's flag in the opening ceremony, had denied suggesting he would
boycott his opening match.

Posted: 8/30/2004 9:32:21 AM EDT

[#1]

Who knew being a sissy would pay so well?

Posted: 8/30/2004 10:45:02 AM EDT

[#2]

It's athletics and his country WRONGLY brought politics into it. He spent a good chunk of his life training HARD for this event and his opportunity was stolen from him by his own government (sound familiar?). From what I've heard, he's no sissy. Or, were all the American athletes "sissies" because Carter wouldn't let them attend the 1980 Summer Games?

Posted: 8/30/2004 11:21:22 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
It's athletics and his country WRONGLY brought politics into it. He spent a good chunk of his life training HARD for this event and his opportunity was stolen from him by his own government (sound familiar?). From what I've heard, he's no sissy. Or, were all the American athletes "sissies" because Carter wouldn't let them attend the 1980 Summer Games?

Despite your high post count you couldn't identify sarcasm when you saw it? I am truly sorry for you.

Just in case you didn't get it, that was a joke too. Lighten up, Francis.

Posted: 8/30/2004 11:23:22 AM EDT

[#4]

Awesome. I'll vow right now that I will
not fight an Israeli in the Olympics in
2008...now, what is the number for the
Iranian consulate? I want to collect my
money.

Posted: 8/30/2004 11:24:52 AM EDT

[#5]

I guess muslim cowardice does come with a payoff at the end. Fact is, his government was terrified that he would compete and there was the chance he would loose. They feared facing that shame.

Posted: 8/30/2004 11:25:09 AM EDT

[#6]

says it all about those cowardly bastards. if you hate someone so much, wouldn't you want to soundly beat their ass?

Posted: 8/30/2004 4:45:58 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
This is what we call a win-win situation. Don't fight the Israeli thereby avoiding a public ass-kicking and then have the mullahs pay you anyway.

Actually he stood a very good chance of kicking his opponents ass, he was the World judo champion after all.

What choices did the guy have:

1)Boycott as ordered
2)Fight and get his head hacked off back in Iran
3)Defect

Those are the only choices I see. Rock meet hard place.

Posted: 8/30/2004 4:49:12 PM EDT

[#8]

Big hairy deal.
The way I see it the Israelis are ahead 2 reactors to zip. No way he could have come back from that far behind.

Posted: 8/30/2004 4:58:06 PM EDT

[#9]

He could have lost. Then he and his families heads are hacked off. Now he is a hero and he is rich by their standards. Its a win win situation for him. Who gives a flying fuck if he didnt fight? I would have done the same thing in his position. The risks he was facing was much more then the average athelte.

Posted: 8/30/2004 5:03:00 PM EDT

[#10]

It would be nice to see an Israeli beat his ass.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Iran Awards 120,000 Dollars To Judo Champion For Not Fighting An Israeli

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