Israel takes gold after Iran withdraws
Source: Agencies |
August 17, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
POLITICS threatened to overshadow the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore after an Iranian athlete cited injury before withdrawing from the boys taekwondo final against an Israeli athlete on the first full day of competition.
The Iranian delegation said Mohammad Soleimani aggravated an injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment, meaning he was unable to face Israel's Gili Haimovitz on Sunday.
Israeli officials said they expected Iran to refuse to compete and that the withdrawal was politically motivated. Daniel Oren, head of the Israeli delegation, said he was thrilled at the gold medal but expressed frustration that the victory was not earned in the final.
"When Gili won the semifinal, we knew the Iranian was making the final. Already, we knew that the Iranians would not come," Oren said.
"This is their system. On the one hand, we got the gold medal. It's very exciting for us.
"On the other hand, we would prefer winning by competing."
Haimovitz said he was happy to have won gold. "Actually, I don't want to get into politics or that kind of thing," the 17-year-old Oren said. "I don't know. I was ready for a fight. If he came out or not, I don't care."
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said it is "my understanding is that he was taken to hospital and unable to compete."
The World Taekwondo Federation confirmed Haimovitz's victory. It denied that there was a political motive for the withdrawal.
IOC member from Israel Alex Gilady said it was a tactic by Iran to avoid violation of Olympic rules.
"Once he (Soleimani) was injured, that meant he still would win the silver ... have to stand on the podium and listen to the Israeli anthem and see the Israeli flag over the Iranian flag," Gilady said. "They put him in an ambulance so at least they would not create a crisis that would have demanded further action. So it looks like everything is OK."
The Iranian delegation said Mohammad Soleimani aggravated an injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment, meaning he was unable to face Israel's Gili Haimovitz on Sunday.
Israeli officials said they expected Iran to refuse to compete and that the withdrawal was politically motivated. Daniel Oren, head of the Israeli delegation, said he was thrilled at the gold medal but expressed frustration that the victory was not earned in the final.
"When Gili won the semifinal, we knew the Iranian was making the final. Already, we knew that the Iranians would not come," Oren said.
"This is their system. On the one hand, we got the gold medal. It's very exciting for us.
"On the other hand, we would prefer winning by competing."
Haimovitz said he was happy to have won gold. "Actually, I don't want to get into politics or that kind of thing," the 17-year-old Oren said. "I don't know. I was ready for a fight. If he came out or not, I don't care."
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said it is "my understanding is that he was taken to hospital and unable to compete."
The World Taekwondo Federation confirmed Haimovitz's victory. It denied that there was a political motive for the withdrawal.
IOC member from Israel Alex Gilady said it was a tactic by Iran to avoid violation of Olympic rules.
"Once he (Soleimani) was injured, that meant he still would win the silver ... have to stand on the podium and listen to the Israeli anthem and see the Israeli flag over the Iranian flag," Gilady said. "They put him in an ambulance so at least they would not create a crisis that would have demanded further action. So it looks like everything is OK."
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