Iranians Will Compete Against Israelis at Olympics

By Haaretz July 23, 2012

Iranian athletes will compete against Israelis at the London Olympics, according to the country’s chef de mission.

Iran has been criticized in the past because some of its athletes withdrew from events against Israelis at the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games.

“We will be truthful to sport,” said Bahram Afsharzadeh, who is also the secretary general of the Iranian Olympic committee said.

Afsharzadeh, who was at times speaking through a translator, also said his team had no plans to boycott events because of the nationality of opponents.

“We just follow the sportsmanship and play every country,” Afsharzadeh said.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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