Middle East in the Olympics

[Sargon of Akkad]

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Congratulations to our Kuwaiti brother for winning the first Arab and Middle Eastern/MENA gold medal.

Here's why a Kuwaiti athlete’s gold medal ceremony was set to the Olympic anthem and not Kuwait’s​

By Rodger Sherman  @rodger_sherman on Aug 10, 2016,

Kuwait won an Olympic medal, but they're not allowed to say it was won by Kuwait.​

Fehaid Al-Deehani of Kuwait won Olympic gold Wednesday in the men’s double trap shooting competition. But instead of the Kuwaiti flag, the Olympic flag was raised at the medal ceremony, and instead of the national anthem of Kuwait, the Olympic Anthem was played.

Al-Deehani is one of nine Kuwaitis competing in Rio de Janeiro as an Independent Olympic Athlete. Since 1992, athletes have participated under the Olympic flag for various reasons. On Wednesday, Al-Deehani became the first ever to win gold, and therefore the first to queue the Olympic song.


Kuwait’s Olympic committee has been suspended by the IOC since last August. The reason is that Kuwait’s government has supposedly passed legislation allowing the government to interfere in elections of various Kuwaiti sport federations, which is one of the IOC’s biggest no-nos. The same legislation has caused FIFA to suspend Kuwait’s soccer federation. Kuwait’s Olympic Committee was suspended by the IOC in 2010 as well, forcing athletes to participate under the Olympic flag at the 2010 Asian games, but the ban was lifted by the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Al-Deehani has been one of the world’s best shooters for a while, winning bronze medals for Kuwait in 2000 in Sydney and again in 2012. But this is his greatest accomplishment, and probably the greatest accomplishment in the sporting history of Kuwait, a country that has never won an Olympic gold. And it didn’t happen under a Kuwaiti flag.

Make no mistake. Technically, this medal was won for the International Olympic Athletes, but Al-Deehani’s win was a win for Kuwait. Sports are played by people, and Al-Deehani, an officer in Kuwait's military, is a proud Kuwaiti man. He carried the Kuwaiti flag in the 2012 Olympics, and was asked to carry the Olympic flag -- but refused, saying he would only carry Kuwait's.

Sports are generally best when they’re decided by people, not governments, Olympic committees or massive intercontinental bureaucracies. Al-Deehani’s win is a reminder of that. The IOC probably feels it's protecting the spirit of that by banning Kuwait, but the Kuwaiti government feels exactly the opposite. They will keep bickering, possibly for a while. But they can’t stop Al-Deehani or the people of Kuwait from celebrating his accomplishment, and hopefully they will.

1992 was the first year an athlete competed as an Independent Olympic Athletes, as Yugoslavian and Macedonian competitors participated under the Olympic flag due to the rapidly changing political situations in the Balkans at the time. In 2000, athletes from East Timor were independent, as their country had not yet formed a federation. In 2012, athletes from the recently dissolved Netherlands Antilles and one athlete from newly formed South Sudan played under the flag. And in 2014, three Indian athletes participated in the Winter Olympics as Independent Athletes due to that country’s suspension from the IOC.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/8/10/1...-aldeehani-independent-olympic-athlete-anthem

Stupid Ahmed al-Fahad al-Ahmed al-Sabah for ruining this for Kuwait although it will always be an Kuwaiti gold medal. A moronic snake who should be thrown out from IOC.



​

@Kuwaiti Girl

Arabs would be dominating so many sports if our governments were as passionate about sports as the case is in the West. We have the money, passion, people and physical built. Already a few people of Arab origin competing for non-Arab countries have won medals in Rio. Competing for Western and Latin American nations. A pathetic situation. Tiny Bahrain has almost 3 times as many athletes as KSA.

Tunisia won a bronze medal as well. Egypt two so far. Good.

I don't think we are related, no I am not your cousin. Everything is OK here, I hope same is true of you too.

I can not post links yet.

Nijat Rahimov of Kazakhstan won their first gold medal in the 77 kg men's weightlifting category, creating a World Record of 379 kg in the process. The silver medalist Chinese Lu Xioajun also lifted 379 kn, and bronze medalist Egyptian Mohamed Ihab lifted 361 kg.

Kazakhstan is placed at 12th now, higher than any Muslim country. Yet it is not in the Middle East, must wait some more for the first Middle Eastern gold medal.

Congrats to Kazakhstan.

Well, I thought that you were a Jewish "friend" of mine here who disappeared. An Israeli of Jewish Moroccan origin. From the UK. Now back in Israel if I recall. I have not seen him here for a long time. Thought that it could be you. You sounded familiar. Never mind.

I am not sure that Central Asian states are supposed to be covered here but good luck to them. They have a good tradition inherited from the USSR and if I recall they tend to do well in weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics.

 

[KungFuCultMaster]

Well, I thought that you were a Jewish "friend" of mine here who disappeared. An Israeli of Jewish Moroccan origin. From the UK. Now back in Israel if I recall. I have not seen him here for a long time. Thought that it could be you. You sounded familiar. Never mind.

I am not sure that Central Asian states are supposed to be covered here but good luck to them. They have a good tradition inherited from the USSR and if I recall they tend to do well in weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics.

I am no Israeli or Jew.

Some Chinese member that I have now blocked kept pestering me earlier about being an Indonesian Chinese and Japanese gang and what not.

Looks like this Rio Olympic is getting more interesting lots of countries are in the medals hunt.

 

[KungFuCultMaster]

Kazakhstan is now at 11th place in the table, with 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.

From the Middle East, I suppose Turkey and Egypt are in the lead. Then again maybe some people will object to their inclusion in the list.

 

[Mahmoud_EGY]

sara ahmed and Mohamed ihab got 2 medals to Egypt

 

[Solomon2]

August 11, 2016

Judoka dedicates Olympic medal to 1972 Munich massacre victims
"This is a dream come true," says Yarden Gerbi after winning Israel's first medal in Rio • "My neck is sore, the medal is so heavy, but I'm taking it to bed with me," she vows • Gerbi says it is "an honor" to have widows of two slain athletes with her.

Mickey Sagi


Photo credit: Reuters

"All this is for me? Wow! It's too much," declared Yarden Gerbi, the Israeli judoka who won the first medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games for Israel on Tuesday, as she entered the celebration organized in her honor by the Olympic committee.


After a day of matches, which culminated on the podium with a bronze medal around her neck, Gerbi was finally able to pause to eat something between camera flashes.

"I am proud to be where I am now, with a medal around my neck," she said. "I will never forget this. This is a dream come true, for me personally and for all the people of Israel who dreamed with me. I am proud to represent Israel. I received everything I needed -- funding, support, encouragement and accolades -- and I appreciate it. It is hard for me to explain how I feel. It will take me some time to process what happened here tonight. I am proud of the day that I've had and I am grateful for everyone who came to cheer me on."

Just like Yael Arad, the Israeli judoka who became Israel's first Olympic medalist when she won a silver medal in Barcelona in 1992, Gerbi dedicated her victory to the victims of the terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics. She posed with Ilana Romano and Ankie Spitzer, the widows of two of the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists, saying that "meeting the widows was so emotional for me."

"This is something I will never forget. It is an honor for me to have them here with me," she added.

She also thanked her supportive family back in Netanya, saying, "My family is watching me right now, even though it is 4 a.m. in Israel. I spoke with my parents, my little sister and my brother. I only missed my older sister, who is on her honeymoon right now. I may need to join her and get away for a little vacation.

"The family is very proud of me, they have sacrificed so much. My mother told me that on the day of the matches, reporters were knocking on the door and my little sister, a true politician, said to them 'I'm not talking until this day ends' and closed the door. I am happy that they are enjoying this now. They deserve it."

Gerbi was supposed to return to Israel on Sunday, after having been apart from her family for many weeks, but the Olympic committee has offered her the honor of carrying the Israeli flag at the closing ceremony on Aug. 21. According to Gili Lustig, the Israeli Olympic committee director, "As of now, Yarden prefers to return to Israel earlier, and we will accept whatever decision she makes."

If she does decide to stay an extra week and participate in the ceremony, Gerbi's parents plan to fly to Brazil to congratulate their daughter and "give a first loving kiss to our hero."

Throughout the celebration, Gerbi held on to the medal and would not part with it for a minute.

"My neck is sore," she said. "The medal is so heavy, but I'm taking it to bed with me."

 

[DavidSling]

Thanks for the two posts from above from Turkey & Israel.

Here is a summary:

Turkey: Weightlifting 69kg ,Daniyar Ismailov
SILVER MEDAL

Israel: Judo Women's 63 kg, Yarden Gerbi
BRONZE MEDAL

United Arab Emirates: Judo Men's 81 kg, Sergiu Toma
BRONZE MEDAL

Congratulations for these three countries!

Congratz to everybody who won a medal
Rio: Crowd boos Egyptian Judoka for refusing to shake Israeli's hand following defeat

Or Sasson is ranked No. 5 judoka in the world.

Israel’s Ori Sasson won a silver medal at the European Championships for a second straight year. (photo credit:OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ISRAEL)

Judoka star Or Sasson defeated Egyptian opponent Islam el-Shehaby in the +100 kg division Friday afternoon at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Following his defeat, however, el-Shehaby refused to shake hands with the Israeli which led to booing from the crowd.


رفض إسلام الشهابي مصافحة أوري ساسون يتنافى مع الروح الرياضية. من يرفض مصافحة الخصم في المنافسات الرياضية غير العرب؟ pic.twitter.com/XSgAIWpAwS

— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) August 12, 2016This was not the first time Israeli participants at the Rio Olympics have encountered such treatment since the start of the games.

Joud Fahmy of Saudi Arabia failed to show up for her bout against Christianne Legentil of Mauritius in the first round of the women's judo under-52kg contest earlier in the week, in an apparent attempt to avoid facing Israel's Gili Cohen in the second round.

Cohen, who received a bye into the second round, was knocked out by Legentil in the last 16 competitors.

While the Lebanese Olympic delegation was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee following a shocking incident in which they refused to let the Israeli delegation board their bus to the opening ceremonies.

As a result, according to the original Facebook post by Israeli sailing coach Udi Gal, event organizers tried to scatter the Israeli athletes on several different buses. He called this “unacceptable for security and representative reasons.”

During the hearing on the matter, the IOC committee warned Salim al-Haj Nakoula the head of the Lebanese delegation, that they would not accept any further instances like this.

Sasson's will now face Poland's Maciej Sarnacki in the semi-finals.

Coming into Rio, Sasson, 25, had earned a pair of Silver medals at the European Judo Championships in 2015 and 2016. The Israeli Judoka had also placed 2nd earlier this year at the World Masters in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Sasson is ranked No. 5 overall in the world.

Allon Sinai contributed to this article.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sp...o-shake-Israelis-hand-following-defeat-463982

 

[DavidSling]

Second Medal in the Olympics - Judoka Or Sasson wins Bronze for Israel at 2016 Rio Olympics
The win brings the Israeli delegation a second medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Or Sasson of Israel's Judo team. (photo credit:REUTERS)

Israel's Ori Sasson won the bronze medal Friday evening after defeating Alex Maxell Garcia Mendoza of Cuba in the men's judo over-100 kilogram competition.


The win brings the Israeli delegation a second medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Yoel Razvozov, Chairman of the Israeli Knesset Sports Lobby and former Israeli judo champion, congratulated Sasson on his win, saying "The Israeli Olympic team is a delegation of excellent athletes. Sasson winning this medal proves that the State of Israel is a state of legitimate and respectable athletics. After a day of exceptional fighting, raising the flag of Israel at the biggest world sporting event for a second time, and putting Sasson on the podium are proof that Israeli sports can compete in any arena."

"At a time when Israel's position in the world is deteriorating, and athletes refuse to shake hands with their Israeli opponents, such athletic achievements are the best answer to all of our critics around the world, and especially to countries that are trying to delegitimize Israel.

I'm very happy for Ori Sasson and for all Israeli sports enthusiasts. Let's continue this way."

Sasson had been defeated earlier by seven-time world champion Teddy Reiner of France, who had lost only twice in the last five years.

Sasson's day began with controversy, with Egyptian opponent Islam El Shehaby refusing to shake his hand after being defeated with an ippon, judo's version of a knockout, 1:36 minutes to the end of the first round bout.

رفض إسلام الشهابي مصافحة أوري ساسون يتنافى مع الروح الرياضية. من يرفض مصافحة الخصم في المنافسات الرياضية غير العرب؟pic.twitter.com/XSgAIWpAwS

— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) August 12, 2016
Sasson then beat Poland's Maciej Sarnacki with ease, setting up a quarterfinal match-up with world No. 3 Roy Meyer of the Netherlands.



The Israeli trailed after being penalized by the referee, but he moved ahead with an impressive waza-ari with 1:01 minutes to go.

Sasson entered the day with high expectations. Israel's first three participants in the judo events all lost in their opening bouts. Israel's first three participants in the judo events all lost in their opening bouts.


However, the atmosphere in the delegation changed completely when Sagi Muki came within one win of taking a medal in the men's under-73 kilogram contest on Monday. Yarden Gerbi then became the toast of Israel by claiming the country's first Olympic medal in eight years when she took a bronze in the women's under-63kg competition on Tuesday. With Linda Bolder also ending the women's under-70kg event in a respectable seventh place on Wednesday, Sasson came into the competition with plenty of momentum.


Sasson claimed silver medals at the past two European Championships and took a silver in his final event before Rio at the World Masters in Guadalajara, Mexico.

 

[Serpentine]

We got out first gold medal in weightlifting.

Kianush Rostami, an ethnic Kurd, not only got the gold, but also broke the world and Olympics record, again.

 

[AmirPatriot]

KIANOUSH ROSTAMI just got IRAN'S first medal!

And its GOLD!

Kianoush was competing in the 85 kg class Weightlifting. He lifted 179 kg in the Snatch, and 217 kg in the Clean and Jerk, beating his opponent by 1 kg and setting a NEW WORLD RECORD of 396 kg!

I also congratulate the Chinese and Romanian athletes Tiam Tao and Sincraian Gabriel on their Silver and Bronze medals respectively.

EDIT: Damn ninjas

 

[Rusty]

Next page:

Congratulations to our Kuwaiti brother for winning the first Arab and Middle Eastern/MENA gold medal.

Here's why a Kuwaiti athlete’s gold medal ceremony was set to the Olympic anthem and not Kuwait’s​

By Rodger Sherman  @rodger_sherman on Aug 10, 2016,

Kuwait won an Olympic medal, but they're not allowed to say it was won by Kuwait.​

Fehaid Al-Deehani of Kuwait won Olympic gold Wednesday in the men’s double trap shooting competition. But instead of the Kuwaiti flag, the Olympic flag was raised at the medal ceremony, and instead of the national anthem of Kuwait, the Olympic Anthem was played.

Al-Deehani is one of nine Kuwaitis competing in Rio de Janeiro as an Independent Olympic Athlete. Since 1992, athletes have participated under the Olympic flag for various reasons. On Wednesday, Al-Deehani became the first ever to win gold, and therefore the first to queue the Olympic song.


Kuwait’s Olympic committee has been suspended by the IOC since last August. The reason is that Kuwait’s government has supposedly passed legislation allowing the government to interfere in elections of various Kuwaiti sport federations, which is one of the IOC’s biggest no-nos. The same legislation has caused FIFA to suspend Kuwait’s soccer federation. Kuwait’s Olympic Committee was suspended by the IOC in 2010 as well, forcing athletes to participate under the Olympic flag at the 2010 Asian games, but the ban was lifted by the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Al-Deehani has been one of the world’s best shooters for a while, winning bronze medals for Kuwait in 2000 in Sydney and again in 2012. But this is his greatest accomplishment, and probably the greatest accomplishment in the sporting history of Kuwait, a country that has never won an Olympic gold. And it didn’t happen under a Kuwaiti flag.

Make no mistake. Technically, this medal was won for the International Olympic Athletes, but Al-Deehani’s win was a win for Kuwait. Sports are played by people, and Al-Deehani, an officer in Kuwait's military, is a proud Kuwaiti man. He carried the Kuwaiti flag in the 2012 Olympics, and was asked to carry the Olympic flag -- but refused, saying he would only carry Kuwait's.

Sports are generally best when they’re decided by people, not governments, Olympic committees or massive intercontinental bureaucracies. Al-Deehani’s win is a reminder of that. The IOC probably feels it's protecting the spirit of that by banning Kuwait, but the Kuwaiti government feels exactly the opposite. They will keep bickering, possibly for a while. But they can’t stop Al-Deehani or the people of Kuwait from celebrating his accomplishment, and hopefully they will.

1992 was the first year an athlete competed as an Independent Olympic Athletes, as Yugoslavian and Macedonian competitors participated under the Olympic flag due to the rapidly changing political situations in the Balkans at the time. In 2000, athletes from East Timor were independent, as their country had not yet formed a federation. In 2012, athletes from the recently dissolved Netherlands Antilles and one athlete from newly formed South Sudan played under the flag. And in 2014, three Indian athletes participated in the Winter Olympics as Independent Athletes due to that country’s suspension from the IOC.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/8/10/1...-aldeehani-independent-olympic-athlete-anthem

Stupid Ahmed al-Fahad al-Ahmed al-Sabah for ruining this for Kuwait although it will always be an Kuwaiti gold medal. A moronic snake who should be thrown out from IOC.



​

@Kuwaiti Girl

Arabs would be dominating so many sports if our governments were as passionate about sports as the case is in the West. We have the money, passion, people and physical built. Already a few people of Arab origin competing for non-Arab countries have won medals in Rio. Competing for Western and Latin American nations. A pathetic situation. Tiny Bahrain has almost 3 times as many athletes as KSA.

Tunisia won a bronze medal as well. Egypt two so far. Good.



Well, I thought that you were a Jewish "friend" of mine here who disappeared. An Israeli of Jewish Moroccan origin. From the UK. Now back in Israel if I recall. I have not seen him here for a long time. Thought that it could be you. You sounded familiar. Never mind.

I am not sure that Central Asian states are supposed to be covered here but good luck to them. They have a good tradition inherited from the USSR and if I recall they tend to do well in weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics.

I'm sorry but that is nonsense what you wrote in the red.
For the most part, Khaliji Arabs are as useless as an ice machine at the North Pole.
You guys have armies of South Asian and Filipino slaves to take care of you every whims. The majority of you lot don't work an honest day in your life, and are used to getting everything for free or by complaining. I have never met such a soft society in my life. Nations of adult babies.

Khalijis don't really have a future post oil. No matter how much they "diversify"

 

[waz]

Shorab Mouadi, going for the world record. Come on you Iranian lifter!

Oh, he just tried but couldn't do it.

But it's gold for in the 94kg class, well done! I can't wait to see you guys tomorrow on the wrestling mats.

 

[TurkeyForever]

How is Turkey doing any good medals?

I'm not into sports so not sure where you see this information.

 

[rmi5]

Sohrab Moradi got Iran's 2nd Gold medal!
Heavy weightlifting, Free-style and Greco-Roman wrestlings, and Taekwondo games are not started yet, and Iran can achieve more medals.

 

[Serpentine]

Second Gold medal.

-------------

Shorab Mouadi, going for the world record. Come on you Iranian lifter!

Oh, he just tried but couldn't do it.

But it's gold for in the 94kg class, well done! I can't wait to see you guys tomorrow on the wrestling mats.

He already got the gold, it was obvious he didn't have the motivation for record breaking.

Sohrab Moradi got Iran's 2nd Gold medal!
Heavy weightlifting, Free-style and Greco-Roman wrestlings, and Taekwondo games are not started yet, and Iran can achieve more medals.

In best case scenario, there is potential for another 8 gold medals. 5 in wrestling, 2 in Taekwando and another in weightlifting.

 

[rmi5]

In best case scenario, there is potential for another 8 gold medals. 5 in wrestling, 2 in Taekwando and another in weightlifting.

Yeah, but it's too much expectation from these guys, specially considering the really difficult schedule of games for Sourian and Abdwali tomorrow who definitely have the chance to get two gold medals. Ehsan Haddadi screwed up other wise we could have 3 gold medals by now. BTW, have you heard that an Iranian runner has reached to the semi-finals of 100m runnig games?!!! His name is Taftian.