Olympic officials resisted pressure to ban Iran from the Tokyo Games, but they’ve banned teams before
Over the weekend, an Iranian defector, one of four Iranians on the Refugee Olympic Team, defeated her taekwondo opponent — a member of the Iranian national team. While the Tokyo Olympics look different from other Games in other years, one Olympic tradition continues: sports and political controversies.
Iran’s harsh rules for athletes, particularly women, prompted calls from many athletes and human rights activists for the International Olympic Committee to ban Iran from competing in Tokyo. In 2020, the Iranian government executed a top wrestler, allegedly for killing a security guard during an anti-government protest. Official restrictions on women’s rights also limit women’s ability to participate in — or watch — sports.… Seguir leyendo »