WANA (Sep 17) – This morning, Tuesday, members of the Iranian delegations to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games met with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

 

In this meeting, the Leader praised the Iranian athletes for their achievements and, expressing joy in meeting with the young athletes, called them a “source of pride and honor for Iran.”

 

He highlighted the exceptional performance of the athletes in this competition, emphasizing that although he may not have been able to follow the details of the games closely, he is aware of the outstanding successes, sincere efforts, and overall results of the athletes.

 

He expressed gratitude to all the medalists, athletes, coaches, the Ministry of Sports, the Olympic Committee, and the heads of federations, attributing recent successes to their dedication and commitment to sports.

 

The Supreme Leader’s Criticism of Double Standards in International Sports

In his remarks, the Supreme Leader criticized the double standards of influential countries in international sports, particularly in this year’s Olympic Games, calling these behaviors biased and unjust.

 

He emphasized: “Some countries are banned from competing due to political actions such as starting wars, but the Zionist regime, which is responsible for the killing of thousands of children and over 41,000 people in the past year, remains immune to sports sanctions.”

 

He described these contradictions as a clear example of politicization in sports and stated that, despite claims of keeping politics out of sports, these countries engage in the most political actions.

 

Members of the Iranian delegations to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games meeting with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, September 17, Social media/ WANA News Agency

 

Iran’s National Pride and Faith Shined in International Sports

The Supreme Leader stated that in this year’s international competitions, not only were the physical strength and athletic skills of Iranian athletes showcased, but also the spiritual strength and self-confidence of the Iranian nation were clearly demonstrated.

 

The dedication of medals to the children of Gaza and Palestine, naming the delegation “Khadem al-Reza” (Servants of Imam Reza), and adhering to hijab and religious principles in sports arenas were examples of this confidence and national identity.

 

Ayatollah Khamenei, pointing to the continuous efforts of adversaries to distort the “identity, truth, and beliefs” of the Iranian people, added: “They claim that religious sentiments in Iran have weakened, but when our champion kisses the Quran and performs a prostration of gratitude in front of perhaps hundreds of millions of viewers, the truth and identity of the Iranian nation, its commitment to its beliefs, and its pursuit of national greatness become prominent. Such inspiring signs were evident in your performance.”

 

The Leader expressed his gratitude for the Iranian athletes’ sense of national and international responsibility in these competitions, stating: “Your dignified behavior, measured actions, and the rationality governing your performance reflect a valuable sense of double responsibility toward the nation and the country.”

 

Supreme Leader’s Recommendations on Sports

The Supreme Leader emphasized the importance of talent identification in sports from the school level and paying special attention to medal-rich disciplines such as wrestling and traditional Iranian sports like Zurkhaneh and polo.

 

He also highlighted the need to support athletes who refrain from competing against Zionist opponents due to national or religious principles.

 

Other recommendations included focusing on the livelihood and employment of athletes, promoting public sports, and supporting Iranian coaches. He further urged the continuation of the nation’s progress in sports.

 

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In the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Iran ranked 21st globally, winning a total of 12 medals: 3 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze. In the Paralympic Games, Iran ranked 14th globally with a total of 24 medals, including 8 gold, 10 silver, and 7 bronze.

 

Members of the Iranian delegations to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games meeting with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, September 17, Social media/ WANA News Agency