Global display of Iranians' national, political and religious identity; Iranian Olympic and Paralympic athletes meet with Imam Khamenei

In the meeting of medal winners and other members of the Olympic and Paralympic caravan with the Leader on Tuesday morning, Imam Khamenei described shining of abilities and manifestation of "national, political and religious identity" of the Iranian nation as the most prominent result of the Iranian athletes' presence in these games.

According to Khamenei.ir , referring to the feeling of joy, dignity and honor of the nation over the performance of the athletes, the Leader said, "Timely discovering of talents, attending the life of the champions, and paying attention to both heroic and public sports will cause the advancing course of sport to continue and accelerate."

Ayatollah Khamenei, expressing high satisfaction with meeting a group of the dearest children who have created honor for Iran, stated, "You have made the nation happy with your medals and behavior. I sincerely thank you, coaches and all those involved."

Calling it a correct and necessary thing to take sport seriously, Imam Khamenei pointed to the comprehensive remarks of the minister of sport on the social and psychological impacts and hope-inspiring effect of sport, and added, "Sport has a basic effect in public diplomacy, too, and upholds the country altogether."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, then, said,

"In addition to displaying professional and athletic abilities, with the significant actions like donating medal to the children of Palestine and Gaza, hijab and serenity, dubbing the caravan with the names of the Infallible Imams and, as it is common, taking selfie with the Palestinian flag, you raise high the self-confidence of the nation before the eyes of the evil-wishers, presented and esteemed your spiritual abilities and national-ideological and Islamic identity."

He added, "Each of these highly valuable moves matter for me and I clarify their deep meaning for the people."

Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to the continuous effort of evil-wishers to distort the "identity, reality and beliefs" of the Iranian nation, stated, "It is said that religious sentiments are weakened in Iran, but when our champion, maybe before the eyes of hundreds of millions of viewers, kisses the Qur'an and performs thanksgiving prostration, the reality and identity of the Iranian nation, his commitment to the beliefs and effort for the national grandeur of Iran are highlighted and such eye-catching signs were obvious in your performance."

Creation of hope in society was another result of medal-winning of the champions which the Leader stressed and said, "Some people lose hope with a trivial physical incident, but when our young athlete on wheel-chair demonstrates power at Paralympics, everyone's heart is filled with hope."

Referring to the tangible double and biased policies of the countries dominating the international sport in this tournament of Olympic and Paralympic games, the Leader continued, "While they deprive a country from participation in competitions due to war, the Zionist regime is not deprived from the games in spite of killing 41 thousand people, including thousands of children in nearly one year."

Imam Khamenei added, "As we have said several times, these double and biased policies show that despite claiming that sport is not political, most actions with political intentions are done in sport."

He called on the champions to preserve their honor outside the sport field, and said, "Your conduct is a model for many people and youths. Thus, just as you boast of the respect for religion, ethics and your religious, political and social responsibilities before the eyes of the whole world, observe these important responsibilities at work and life, too."

Imam Khamenei called on the officials to plan for timely discovering of sport talents from the school period and said, "Then next recommendation is special attention to medal-bringing fields such as wrestling, and the fields which Iran is famous for like zurkhaneh sport and polo."

He then stressed making a situation in the international fields to demonstrate the Iranian gowd (pit of zurkhaneh) and zurkhaneh sport which includes order and special meaning and significance and added, "The next recommendation is not to neglect the athlete who does not compete with the Zionist side due to his own national and religious ideal, and practically sustains expense. Attention to these athletes is among the important duties of sport officials."

Ayatollah Khamenei considered it essential for the government to heed the livelihood and employment of athletes and securing their athletic needs as much as possible and continued, "I am an advocate of heroic sport, but attention to the public sport shouldn't be neglected, either; because sport will reduce many expenses of the country both physical and moral expenses."

In the end, the Leader called it useful and necessary to support and make additional use of the capacity of Iranian coaches and added, "I am happy that the sport of the country is on the track of progress and this course must continue."

In the beginning of this meeting, Ahmad Donyamali, Minister of Sport and Youths, gave a report of the honors created by the athletes sent to the Paris Olympic and Paralympic games, and said, "Altogether, the dear Iranian flag was hoisted 37 times in these games."

In addition, Ms. Sareh Javanmardi, the winner of several gold medals in several Paralympic pistol shooting games and Mr. Arian Salimi, gold-winner of Olympic Taekwondo and Mr. Rouhollah Rostami, gold-winner of Paralympic weightlifting, representing all athletes, thanked the Leader's prayer, congratulation and supports and his reminding of spiritual honors of the Iranian champions in these competitions, and called for the officials to pay attention to the livelihood and employment of the champions to continue athletic success.