Statements at the Meeting with Medal-Winning Athletes of Iran's Sports Caravan at the Asian Para Games in Indonesia

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 and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, virtuous, and infallible family, especially the Awaited Savior.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters, truly honorable youth. Sports is a value; both at the individual level—meaning an athlete has added value compared to someone who does not engage in sports—and at the national level, at the level of the country. A country that has sports, public sports, and elite sports, which is the model for public sports, has added value compared to others; today, this is established in the world, everyone knows this, everyone understands it; hence, you see how much they spend on elite sports and how much they strive to support their champions, sometimes even placing their policies behind this. Today, in the world, despite the slogans that sports should not be politicized, that politics should not enter sports, and such slogans exist, they sometimes place politics behind sports; why? To glorify their country through the blessings of sports and the adornment of sports; that is how sports works. Therefore, you who are engaged in this field—the field of sports—should feel and truly believe that you are doing a spiritually valuable work, and if your intention is to serve the country and the Islamic Republic, it is certainly a divine and spiritual good deed, meaning it has reward, akin to worship. Well, this is the essence of sports.

However, regarding you, I have noted a few points here to share with you. Well, elite sports is a manifestation of self-confidence, a manifestation of determination and will; all the champions of the world are like this, that their presence as champions and their abilities as champions signify their strong will and resolute determination; this is doubly true for those who are physically disabled and disabled veterans; meaning, consider that if a person without a physical problem can become a champion in a certain sport and achieve a high rank, when a person with a physical problem achieves the same rank and demonstrates the same ability, it indicates a stronger determination in this individual; therefore, the value of this work is either doubled or even more. You have been able to shine in this field despite your physical challenges; this is very valuable. Therefore, for those who have physical problems—disabled veterans and the disabled—your sports and your championships have double or greater value compared to the championships and sports of those who do not have physical problems; it reflects your strong determination. The moment you encountered a physical problem—in your hand, in your leg, or anywhere on your body—you could have withdrawn from the arena of championship and sports competitions, using the excuse that you have a physical problem; however, you did not do this; you entered the field, worked hard, made efforts, trained, pushed yourselves, and then exerted strong determination to reach the peak of this sporting endeavor; because elite sports is the peak, and public sports is the base; everyone moves towards this peak, everyone looks at this peak and learns from it. Therefore, the value of your work is greater than the value of the work of other champions who do not have physical problems; this is the first point.

Another important point that I observed in your work, both this time as much as I could see on television and previously, is that I saw you thank God after your victories, some of you prostrated; this means that you attribute this victory to God, you see this blessing as from God; this is very valuable. The problem with rebellious and defiant people is that they see their existence as stemming from themselves, they become oblivious to divine grace and divine attention. With your actions, your attentiveness, your supplication, your prostration, and your raising your hands in prayer, you have shown that you are not oblivious and that you know that this blessing, with which you have been honored, has been granted to you by the Almighty God; this is a significant moment of gratitude; and this, God willing, will lead to more successes for you, and your abilities will, God willing, increase. Because it has been said: "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you"; if you give thanks, God increases the blessing. Your action, which indicates your awareness of divine blessings, is a significant moment of gratitude.

Another point that stood out to me was the self-confidence you demonstrated in defending your authenticity; one example was that your flag bearers were women wearing hijabs; this is very valuable. I do not know if the lady who wore the hijab and held the flag and walked in front of the caravan during the opening and closing ceremonies realized how valuable this act is? How significant this movement is? This means you stand alone against the increasing onslaught of immorality and licentiousness in the world; this is its meaning; it means that you stand against the policies promoted by the Zionists and the destructive moral companies in the world that aim to lead men and women towards moral corruption, defending your hijab, your chador, your religion, and your Islamic teachings in a truly international and global arena, without any hesitation; it requires great heart and courage. Many falter; I have seen in some cases in these international arenas that some lack the ability to resist the endless expectations of the camp of disbelief and global arrogance, they falter, they retreat; you stood firm; this is very valuable. You formed congregational prayers, participated in Friday prayers, meaning you defended your religion, your knowledge, your national values, your national dress—the chador is our national dress—and your religion and your chastity; this was very valuable to me. I sincerely and deeply thank all of you, the leaders of this sports caravan, and those women who adhered to this. This was a cultural display of power; see, this indicates cultural authority, it indicates cultural independence, it indicates strong will. Today in the world, it is a war of wills; whichever side has a stronger will and greater stability will prevail in these arenas; you have shown here that you have capability and authority.

Another point that was reported to me about your sports caravan this year was the cost-saving measures, which is very good. I heard that the respected officials of this sports caravan saved costs; they did not take some people who usually accompany these caravans without reason, and the other actions they took; this is also approved by us, it is commendable; I truly commend this.

A fundamental point regarding the elite sports of the disabled and veterans is that it demonstrates the activation of the hidden capacities within human beings. One of our major problems today in the country is that we have many capacities—national capacities—that we do not utilize; we have geographical capacity, cultural capacity, human resource capacity, underground resource capacity, trade capacity, international and central movement capacity; we have all kinds of capacities, yet unfortunately, many of them are not utilized properly, and if they were, many of the current economic problems of the country would be largely resolved. Among the things that should be considered is this; humans have a capacity; this capacity is often overlooked; when someone looks at a disabled brother or sister who has a physical problem, it seems to them that they lack many ordinary abilities, yet within them exists this very important capacity to become a champion. You became champions, won gold, won silver, earned medals; this championship and this capacity may exist in many others who are not utilized, yet you utilized it; this is very important. Your sports and your championships demonstrate the possibility of utilizing the hidden capacities within human beings; meaning you became a lesson for others and a teacher for others. All of us must truly learn; at different ages; especially the youth must learn from you; they should know that within them, in their bodies, in their will and spirit, there are capacities that they can activate and utilize for the advancement of the country, for prosperity, for themselves, for the world, and for the hereafter. This is also a point that I find very important; you were a manifestation of activating capacities.

One of you gentlemen—who I do not know closely—won six gold medals, apparently in swimming; this is very important, six medals! Six gold medals he won for the sport in which he specializes; this indicates an extraordinary capacity. Perhaps this gentleman himself did not know for a long time that he had such an ability, such a capacity within him; yet he entered, moved, acted, decided, and has reached a point where, for example, he can win six gold medals. This is another point.

The last point is that you have a multiplied impact in motivating the masses and the general public. I have always said that elite sports is like a peak that must exist in the country so that others can all engage in sports; because everyone must engage in sports; both the youth must engage in sports, and the elderly must engage in sports; the sports of the youth is one way, the sports of the elderly—like us—is another way; ultimately, everyone must exercise. Who motivates people to exercise? Those at the peak; they motivate others. The motivation you provide is double the motivation that others provide; because you achieved this honor despite your physical challenges.

In any case, we are very grateful to all of you for your efforts; we thank the officials of your caravan; we thank the sports officials, Mr. Khosravi-Vafa, and others. God willing, may you always be successful and may you always maintain this spiritual spirit and this attentiveness and this strong determination, and may your situation improve day by day. The requests made by this dear brother, the disabled veteran—who is both a disabled veteran and a freed prisoner—were clear; whatever pertains to the government, Mr. Minister is here, and please pay attention, meaning follow up; their requests are not many; they are a correct and genuine request. Please fulfill these and do not let them remain for after you. Their request from us was also clear; they said chador and ring, and we are at your service, God willing, we will present both the chador and the ring to all of you.

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