International tensions are on the rise in the wake of recent decisions made by President Donald Trump, but USA Wrestling is not going to let that stand in their way of competing in Iran next month. This decision comes despite Iran responding to Trump’s executive order by shutting out Americans from being able to travel to Iran.
“We’re going to respect the laws and orders of those in leadership positions in government and figure out how to embrace those and work with them to secure proper documentation for athletes to come here and us to go there,” USA Wrestling’s Rich Bender said on Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Team USA is scheduled to compete in the men’s freestyle World Cup in Kermanshah in Iran on February 16-17. The United States wrestling program has already been given reassurances from the Iranian federation they will work to make the travel arrangements needed to continue with the competition as planned.
“Wrestling has shown a long, rich history of transcending politics and participating despite governmental disagreements,” Bender said. “That’s the beauty of sport and the Olympic movement. It’s about competition, not politics.”
This is just the latest example we have where sports can find a way to transcend politics. The United States and Iran are no strangers when it comes to sorting out any differences in the wrestling world. As noted by the AP, the United States was the first American sports team to compete in Iran in 1998 after roughly two decades. Iran’s wrestling team has competed in the United States 16 times since 1990.
Yay sports! Boo politics.
