Statements in Meeting with Iran's Olympic and Paralympic Champions at the 2020 Tokyo Games

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his pure family, and God's curse be upon all their enemies.

Welcome to all of you; seeing you brings a sense of joy and pride. Achieving victory in sports competitions, especially at the international level, carries an important message; that message is one of ability, vitality, determination, and willpower; it means everyone feels that this person who was able to become a champion and stand on the podium has made an effort, has willed it, has actualized their abilities, and brings vitality to society; this is the important message of championship in international sports; in fact, champions are the teachers of perseverance, hope, and vitality.

With your championship, you prove that things which seem impossible are, in fact, achievable; this is a significant gain for our country; this message is very valuable for our time. Many institutions are busy planning to distance Iranian youth from hope and vitality, to make them depressed, to instill despair in them. In such an atmosphere, you inject this message of hope into the entire society; this is very valuable.

If I were to convey a brief two-word message regarding the various championships of our athletes, know that it comes from the depths of my heart; because one recognizes the value of your movement. Many of you who were able to conquer the global podiums and raise your country's flag in front of the eyes of all the people of the world had very limited resources, you had little means, your resources were negligible - especially in some regions of the country where resources are even more limited - but your determination was high, your will was strong, your resolve was firm; this is a message for the youth of the country; and as we mentioned, it neutralizes the efforts of those who wish to strip away hope and create an atmosphere of despair in the country.

Of course, we must thank God Almighty that this championship and hope-giving is not limited to the realm of sports; we are the same in the field of science, in the field of technology, and in the field of literature; great works are being accomplished in the country; one of the responsibilities of our officials is to honestly and realistically showcase these works; which, unfortunately, is not being done properly. We have great success in the fields of science, literature, technology, art, and various other domains.

One point regarding sports championship is that championship and medal-winning, like many other things in the world, has its right and wrong, its healthy and unhealthy aspects. Some championships or medal-winnings are not healthy, they are unhealthy; they are not valuable. You have seen examples of this in the world; from injustices and political entanglements and bribery that have occurred in some international sports arenas to what an athlete might do, using performance-enhancing substances, doping, and so on, to the extent that an athlete may achieve a medal through treachery to their homeland or through self-betrayal; this medal has no value, this championship has no value; it is an anti-value; this championship is not the valuable championship.

However, you have shown valuable manifestations; both in this year's international arena and in some past arenas, you were able to present high human values. I will mention what I saw on television - to the extent that I had the opportunity, or some things I heard, I did not have the chance to see myself but I became informed - I mention it. This ethical and chivalrous behavior that you displayed along with spirituality: naming the sports caravan after the martyrs, especially after martyr Soleimani, is a very valuable act; the awarding of medals by several champions to specific martyrs, stating that this medal is awarded to such and such martyr, these are very valuable; using the scarf as a symbol of sacrifice and resistance and prostration to God on the scarf; these are values; these spread and disseminate spirituality at the level of global public opinion and global sentiments, which is very valuable; the hijab of female athletes, as this dear girl mentioned, is truly a great value; the champion of this competition, wearing the chador while carrying the flag, showcased the Iranian Muslim woman's attire before the eyes of the world; the scene of expressing love and affection for the dear flag of Iran and tears of joy, tears of honor in front of the flag that is being raised; the scene of praying, the scene of embracing the defeated opponent, the scene of the volleyball team showing respect to the mother of martyr Babaei, whom I expressed respect and devotion to years ago in their home; I know the late Babaei and this lady. These are manifestations of Islamic and revolutionary values; these introduce Iran.

Championship in sports has value when it reflects the identity of a nation. Those who use hired and purchased athletes cannot showcase the identity of their nation; renting an athlete from somewhere else, from another country, paying them to come and compete for our national team cannot reflect the identity of a nation. You have shown the identity of the Iranian nation with your behaviors; you have shown that chivalry exists, that spirituality exists.

Our female athletes in this round of international competitions - and in previous rounds as well - have proven that Islamic hijab does not hinder brilliance, just as we have proven this in the political arena, in the field of science, and in management fields; in the sports arena, you have proven that hijab does not hinder the brilliance of women, contrary to the propaganda of the enemies and the deceived who spread and weave false narratives about hijab. Your hijab has also inspired women athletes from other Muslim countries. I have heard that in recent years, women athletes from more than ten other Muslim countries have appeared in international sports arenas wearing hijab; this was not common, you did this; the champion and athlete women of Iran did this and opened this path.

Now, an important point regarding international sports is the issue of the criminal Zionist regime; this is a very important matter. The brutal, genocidal, and illegitimate regime tries to gain legitimacy for itself in international sports arenas by its presence; it uses sports arenas for this purpose, and the global arrogant powers and their affiliates also assist and support it. In this area, I advise you - both to the respected sports officials and to the athletes themselves - do not be passive in any way; do not be passive in any way. Of course, they will take countermeasures; it is the duty of the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and legal institutions to support athletes through legal means and diplomacy and not allow them to be oppressed. Our proud, free athlete cannot shake hands with a representative of a criminal regime in a sports arena for the sake of a medal and thereby recognize them de facto.

[Of course] this has a history. Now today they are making a fuss for the Zionist regime, but in the past, the former apartheid regime of South Africa was the same; many athletes around the world did not compete with its athletes; that regime was destroyed and annihilated, this will also be destroyed; this too will be annihilated. Therefore, it is a very important issue that institutions must defend the rights of Iranian athletes and even non-Iranian athletes who have faced deprivation and similar issues due to not wanting to confront representatives of the Zionist regime - like this Algerian athlete this time - they must support them.

Another point that I have previously mentioned and emphasized is the issue of quality enhancement in international sports. Focus on sending athletes in medal-winning disciplines - we have very good talents in some disciplines and our medal-winning is very good - and also on athletes who have a chance of winning medals; that is, truly send the national team, the collection of international sports from Iran, with high quality. The committees should be minimized as much as possible; this year, the capacity of our Paralympic caravan was much less than before, but their medal-winning was very good, they were able to work; this issue of quality presence was somewhat better adhered to; pursue this and this is an important point in my opinion.

A significant mission for sports institutions is to elevate rankings in the Olympics. Now it has been pointed out that we are in the first quarter, but Iran is a proud country; the more we can elevate our rankings, the better. We ranked twenty-seventh; a ranking suitable for our dear country is higher than this, above this. Plan for this; plan so that you can, God willing, elevate the country's ranking. Of course, this year's Paralympic ranking was good [but] compared to previous years, it was not the highest - this time they became thirteenth, [but] I think once they were apparently eleventh; this is what comes to my mind - in any case, it was good. Pursue this as much as you can.

One noteworthy point is to support domestic sports equipment manufacturers. I have heard that this year several countries used the sports clothing that was produced in our country; this Iranian symbol shone in the world; well, in fact, they were able to break the stereotypical monopoly of some international brands with this work; this is very valuable; support this production; both this production should be supported, and other sports tools should be produced domestically, and just as you were able to achieve this superiority regarding clothing, you will likely succeed in other sports tools as well.

One point is also to encourage authentic Iranian sports; I have emphasized this many times in the past. Now, for example, polo is an Iranian sport; it belongs to us, [but] others are using polo, and we very little. While polo belongs to you and can also be attractive in terms of attracting tourists and so on. Such sports are very good. And also using Iranian coaches, as this dear brother mentioned, is one of our constant recommendations that as much as possible, use Iranian coaches. We ask God Almighty to grant you success and keep you safe.

A fundamental point that was also in the speeches of the gentlemen was that regarding employment, regarding the living and livelihood problems of these champions who are facing such issues, there should be real attention paid; that is, this sports justice in all places, both geographically and in terms of types of sports, a justice greater than what is currently being implemented should be considered. We hope that God Almighty will keep you safe, keep you alive; you have brought honor to your country, your nation, may God keep you honored, and especially for our disabled veterans and the disabled, may their physical problems be lessened, and may they overcome these problems and shine even more, just as they have until today.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.