US wrestling team denied visas for competition in Iran

[Dakine10 5,452]

The US wrestling team won't be able to compete in this month's Freestyle World Cup in Iran because visas were denied to its members, the Iranian semiofficial Tasnim News Agency said Friday.

 

Quote

"If these reports are true, USA Wrestling is extremely disappointed about this," the organization said in a statement. "Wrestling is about competition and goodwill through sport, and is no place for politics."

 

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/03/sport/iran-usa-wrestling-team-visa-denied/index.html

 

 

   I thought the bolded comment was a bit naive. Goodwill has to come from somewhere, and lack of goodwill the same. I doubt if this will be an isolated scenario. When we threaten and bully other countries, I don't think we should have the expectation of goodwill. Historically sports competition is one of the venues often affected by diplomatic discord.

[OriZ 3,157]

I don't care what it is a retaliation to, if this is true the competition should just be moved, period.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

12 minutes ago, Dakine10 said:

The US wrestling team won't be able to compete in this month's Freestyle World Cup in Iran because visas were denied to its members, the Iranian semiofficial Tasnim News Agency said Friday.

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/03/sport/iran-usa-wrestling-team-visa-denied/index.html

 

 

   I thought the bolded comment was a bit naive. Goodwill has to come from somewhere, and lack of goodwill the same. I doubt if this will be an isolated scenario. When we threaten and bully other countries, I don't think we should have the expectation of goodwill. Historically sports competition is one of the venues often affected by diplomatic discord.

Yes I remember when dummy worst President ever boycotted  the whole 1980 Olympics. 

[Dakine10 5,452]

30 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

Yes I remember when dummy worst President ever ...

   Reagan?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

13 minutes ago, Dakine10 said:

   Reagan?

How dare you shame him and the shining city on the hill and St. Scalia!!!  Lock her up and emails and everything else that was said at the RNC!!!

ok I think I went overboard 

[Dakine10 5,452]

4 minutes ago, Transborderwife said:

How dare you shame him and the shining city on the hill and St. Scalia!!!  Lock her up and emails and everything else that was said at the RNC!!!

ok I think I went overboard 

   Once in a while is OK.

   

[MacUK 983]

16 hours ago, OriZ said:

I don't care what it is a retaliation to, if this is true the competition should just be moved, period.

Why? Just because one team can't go?

 

Would you say the same thing about a competition being held in the US that any competitors from those seven countries would be unable to attend?

[OriZ 3,157]

1 hour ago, MacUK said:

Why? Just because one team can't go?

 

Would you say the same thing about a competition being held in the US that any competitors from those seven countries would be unable to attend?

 

Of course I would. Sports is sports and I've held a consistent stand against involving politics and sports as far as I've been in this forum and before that. I don't care what country you are and who you have or don't have diplomatic relations with and who you want to or don't want to let in. If it's an international tournament the organizers should make damn sure you can let everyone in to compete or choose a different place, and if you've already been chosen and refuse it is their responsibility to move it, end of story.

[bcking 3,157]

1 hour ago, OriZ said:

 

Of course I would. Sports is sports and I've held a consistent stand against involving politics and sports as far as I've been in this forum and before that. I don't care what country you are and who you have or don't have diplomatic relations with and who you want to or don't want to let in. If it's an international tournament the organizers should make damn sure you can let everyone in to compete or choose a different place, and if you've already been chosen and refuse it is their responsibility to move it, end of story.

The athletes could be terrorists...

 

I'm only half serious. If we really think those 7 countries' governments are so corrupt that we can't trust them at all and we have to completely ban anyone from coming here from those 7 countries, it would seem reasonable to include athletes as well. It would be a great cover for a big terrorist attack. Bowling ball bags with bombs maybe?

 

(I realize you are arguing to not hold it in the US so I'm not directly disagreeing with you, just quoting you to add to the discussion)

Edited February 4, 2017 by bcking

[OriZ 3,157]

1 hour ago, bcking said:

The athletes could be terrorists...

 

I'm only half serious. If we really think those 7 countries' governments are so corrupt that we can't trust them at all and we have to completely ban anyone from coming here from those 7 countries, it would seem reasonable to include athletes as well. It would be a great cover for a big terrorist attack. Bowling ball bags with bombs maybe?

 

(I realize you are arguing to not hold it in the US so I'm not directly disagreeing with you, just quoting you to add to the discussion)

I get that you're not arguing with me but to add to the discussion - take for instance events like the olympics. It's a given everybody gets a permit to compete, whether people from a certain country are normally allowed into that country or not. It's usually one of the things the hosting country has to agree to in order to host the event to start with. I'm sorry but if the Iranians agreed to this then they should let the American team in and if they refuse then they should be notified that they're not going to get to host it. 

 

I'm not really big on this ban to start with so of course I would let them in, but even if I was a supporter of the ban I'd still let them in. If you have a special valid visa/permit in order to compete then you do. It's just like when certain events are held in places like, say, Quatar, one of the things they hash out ahead of time is that the Israeli team(I think a recent example is tennis) will have special permits to go and compete there even though the countries do not have any official relations. There was one time there was almost an issue, I can't remember what exactly happened but they were threatened that the tournament would be moved so they backed down. Sports and politics should never be mixed.

[Dakine10 5,452]

6 hours ago, OriZ said:

I get that you're not arguing with me but to add to the discussion - take for instance events like the olympics. It's a given everybody gets a permit to compete, whether people from a certain country are normally allowed into that country or not. It's usually one of the things the hosting country has to agree to in order to host the event to start with. I'm sorry but if the Iranians agreed to this then they should let the American team in and if they refuse then they should be notified that they're not going to get to host it. 

 

I'm not really big on this ban to start with so of course I would let them in, but even if I was a supporter of the ban I'd still let them in. If you have a special valid visa/permit in order to compete then you do. It's just like when certain events are held in places like, say, Quatar, one of the things they hash out ahead of time is that the Israeli team(I think a recent example is tennis) will have special permits to go and compete there even though the countries do not have any official relations. There was one time there was almost an issue, I can't remember what exactly happened but they were threatened that the tournament would be moved so they backed down. Sports and politics should never be mixed.

  Given that the competition is this month, It's hard to see moving it being feasible logistically. Going forward they should take this into consideration. The Iranian government has no justification for doing this, and they didn't try to give any. It's obviously ####### for tat in response to the Trump ban. I'm not saying it's right, just that historically it's something to be expected based on the initial ban. Incidentally the 2018 competition is in Iowa.

[Dakine10 5,452]

  Silly censor. 

[TBoneTX 46,682]

1 hour ago, Dakine10 said:

  Silly censor. 

We can all titter at that result.

[Dakine10 5,452]

  Iran reverses decision to deny entry to US wrestling team for tournament

[verneforchat 139]

5 hours ago, Dakine10 said:

  Iran reverses decision to deny entry to US wrestling team for tournament

I wonder if they are going to keep changing their policies every time the idiot in the WH puts out EOs or threatens to put nations on notice (whatever that is).