At Friday’s Opening Ceremony, the secretary-general of the United Nations said in a videotaped message the Olympics can “open a window of hope” toward better understanding among nations.
Within two days, that notion was proved utopian.
A two-time world champion judo athlete from Iran was disqualified Sunday after what most suspected was a ruse to avoid a first-round match against an athlete from Israel. The official reason for Arash Miresmaeili’s withdrawal was failure to make weight in the 66-kg. class.
Miresmaeili, Iran’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony, reportedly told the Iran news agency IRNA he would not compete against Israeli Ehud Vaks.
“Although I have trained for months and was in good shape, I refused to fight my Israeli opponent to sympathize with the suffering of the people of Palestine, and I do not feel upset at all,” he was quoted as having told IRNA.
Iran has refused to acknowledge Israel’s existence.
The International Olympic Committee has taken no position because it has not formally been brought to its attention, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. International Judo Federation spokesman Michelle Brousse said the federation was seeking more information.
“The IJF is surprised,” Brousse said. “Perhaps he is hiding something, but we don’t know. What I do know is we got an official statement from the president of the Iranian judo federation saying rumors [of refusal to fight an Israeli] are not true.”
Vaks, who had an undistinguished record, was eliminated from the tournament when he lost his first match, to Amar Meridja of Algeria.
“I feel horrible for [Miresmaeili],” Vaks said. “I know the way it feels to lose, and I imagine this is even worse for him.
“I don’t think they (Iran) have the right not to acknowledge us. Israel is a democracy, and Iran isn’t. But sport is linked to politics, and always has been. Maybe the next Olympics will be better.”
Miresmaeili finished fifth at the 2000 Olympics and is the reigning world champion in the weight class.
For Israelis, having the controversy occur in judo gave it an extra dimension. At the 1992 Olympics, Yael Arad’s second place in judo brought Israel its first Olympic medal.
“We’re very disappointed and very sad,” Arad told Shaun Powell of Newsday. “We know the situation in Iran, but sport is above that. Sport makes a bridge between countries and religions.
“It is outrageous, and it is a big shame for them not to let a world champion fight for the title.
“This is not what the Olympic movement is for.”
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