Iran: Athletes are forced to peddling on the streets
When the crumbled economic and social situation in Iran is covered in news most of the times the analytic figures do not illustrate the realty. The maladministration rooted in fundamentalist, tyrannical and corrupt structure of this regime during the past three decade have caused economic problems that has effected all walks of life. Sport and Athletics are not spared to this.
Jafari, who also set a new record in Iran in 2012, says he lives in poverty and he received no reward or support for his achievements. In fact, after the Asia games when he hurt his ankle the track & field federation wasn’t even willing to send a letter so he would be able to receive free medical care.
He said he is not the only sports athlete who is forced to sell goods on the streets as the Iranian regime’s sports federations are not willing to support them. Many other Iranian athletes were even seen sleeping on the streets in previous years, he added.
For example, Farshad Darke, champion of the 2012 martial arts festival, was seen sleeping on the streets for a long time.
Omid Setayeshpour, Iranian power lifter, Mojtaba Moradi, Greco-Roman wrestling, Sadegh Pakdaman and many others received metals in international games, but are now seen selling goods on the streets just to make ends meet.
In another related incident the bodybuilding athletes protest lack of facilities. A number of athletes of Empire Bodybuilding Club in Khoaram-Abad, southwestern Iran, who are holding official authorization to work, protested against lack of facilities including heating units. They also said they refrain from attending this club unless their demands are met.
Protest against government incompetence is growing in the country among youth, athletes, workers and even government employees. The current disasters status of Iranian athletics same as all other social and economic impasse in Iran can only be solved through a democratic regime change in Iran by the courageous youth and women who are continuously protesting in streets for years.