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Goodwill Mission Iranians at Games for wrestling, not politics
Posted: Thursday July 23, 1998 09:46 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rasul Khadem, here to wrestle in the Goodwill Games, studied the front page of the newspaper, particularly the lead story about Iran testing a medium-range missile. Khadem, a political-science student at Tehran University, was asked what he thought about that matter. "What you see in the news is not always fact," he said through interpreter Hamid Kermanshah. "After a while, you will find out the facts." For now, the facts are these: Iran's wrestlers are ready for their Goodwill Games competition, which begins Saturday with matches against Russia and the United States. The political implications are obvious. Khadem, however, said his country's image was all wrong. "If you study Iran the last 20 years, we have shown no animosity," he said. "We have never invaded other countries. We were invaded. If you treat and accept us as independents, we never have animosity for other countries. "I am here to do the best for my country and create new friendship." This is the latest in a recent string of sports meetings between Iran and the United States, which have not had diplomatic relations for 20 years and still deal through the political, cultural and religious fallout of the Islamic revolution. Last month, Iran's soccer team defeated the United States 2-1 in the World Cup, a victory that filled Tehran's streets with joyful demonstrations and brought the team a hero's welcome when it returned. Khadem, a gold medalist in the 198-pound class at the 1996 Olympics, and other members of the Iranian delegation visited Kermanshah's oriental rug gallery for a reception Thursday before beginning their competition. They traveled by bus from their midtown hotel, looking out the windows at the sights of Manhattan, which can be daunting for any first-time visitor. American wrestler John Giura, a New Yorker who went along for the ride, said he spoke to one of the Iranians. "I asked him how he liked New York," Giura said. "He said it's like Tehran but more dangerous. I told him it's not as dangerous as it used to be." Giura was a member of the U.S. team that visited Iran in February for Takhti Cup competition. It was the first visit by an American team to the country in 20 years and officials said they were greeted warmly by the people. He said he did not think about the issues that have separated the two governements. "When you are on a trip to compete, you focus on that," he said. "You're there to wrestle. I was not really concerned about the other stuff." Giura said he took advantage of the trip to visit the bazaar in Tehran. "I bought some pistachios but I ate them before I left the country," he said. "The only thing I brought back were a few craft boxes and myself." He recalled being briefed by American officials, told not to shake hands with women, advised to be polite and abide by local customs. There was one disquieting note, though. "There was a billboard on a building across from our hotel," he said. "It had the American flag with bombs falling inside the stripes." Khadem was asked about that. "That flag was not hostility," he said. "That flag was left over from Vietnam. The United States never bombed Iran." This is a return visit for the Iranian wrestlers, but one that almost did not happen. When they traveled to America in April for the World Cup competition in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the wrestlers were detained in Chicago for fingerprinting and photos, routine for non-diplomatic visitors from their country. They were angered by the procedure and did not want it repeated here. Officials of the Goodwill Games and the two governments worked out the details and the trip went on. "This is important because it means opening good relations with the people of the United States," said Kermanshah, an Iranian who has lived in America since 1976. "Maybe it will open a dialogue between the governments."
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