Iran boycotts Atlanta's Titan Games over combat in holy cities

<p>Officials with the United States Olympic Committee and the Atlanta Sports Council are taking a wait-and-see attitude about Iran's announced plans to boycott the Titan Games in Atlanta next month.</p><p>The head of Iran's Wrestling Federation said Monday that Iranian wrestlers will not participate in the Titan Games, a pre-Olympics competition scheduled for June 18-20.</p><p>Mohammad Reza Taleqani told The Associated Press the decision was made "because of the current situation in the holy cities in Iraq."</p><p>However, Taleqani said Iran may reconsider if U.S.-led coalition forces withdraw from holy cities in Iraq.</p><p>Officials with the USOC and the Titan Games said Monday they have received no official notification Iran will not participate in the Titan Games.</p><p>"At this point it is still speculation because we have not received anything by fax or by mail," Kevin Neuendorf, USOC's manager of media services, said Monday.</p><p>Neuendorf said USOC and USA Wrestling officials were attempting to make direct contact with Iran's Wrestling Federation Monday.</p><p>Gary Abbott, the director of the U.S. Wrestling Special Projects, said Sunday he was unaware of an Iranian pullout from the Titan Games.</p><p>Meanwhile, Matt Garvey of the Atlanta Sports Council said he hopes all teams scheduled to attend are in Atlanta. Canada, China, Columbia, the Republic of Georgia, Germany, Iran, Korea and Mexico are scheduled to participate, along with athletes from the U.S.</p><p>"Obviously, we're anticipating all of the countries invited playing and we're looking forward to hosting," Garvey said. "As far as I'm concerned, they're still coming until the USOC says they're not coming."</p><p>There are scheduled competitions in boxing, wrestling, judo, tae kwon do, fencing, weightlifting and shot put in the Titan Games, one of the USOC's most important events leading up to the Summer Olympics in Athens.</p><p>Events are scheduled for Centennial Park and Philips Arena in Atlanta, including U.S. vs. Iran wrestling on June 19 and June 20.</p><p>It would be a significant blow to the games if Iran follows through with its plans to boycott the event, Neuendorf said.</p><p>"I think from an athletic standpoint, the Iranian wrestling team is the No. 3 wrestling team in the world," Neuendorf said. "In terms of our wrestlers competing and getting the proper training for Athens, based on that, it would be a huge blow to the Titan Games."</p><p>The Iranian Fencing Federation also will boycott the June 10-13 New York Grand Prix, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.</p><p>The announcements Monday came one day after Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tehran sent a "warning" message to the United States through the Swiss Embassy concerning Washington's actions in Iraq. A ministry spokesman would not elaborate.</p><p>There have been almost daily street protests in Iran since Najaf's Imam Ali Mosque, one of the most important shrines in Shiite Islam, was damaged May 14 in fighting between coalition forces and Iraqi insurgents. The U.S. military said insurgents probably caused the damage, but Iranian officials hold the United States responsible.</p><p>Before dawn Monday, three mortar rounds landed about 300 yards from the Imam Ali shrine during fighting.</p><p>On Sunday, U.S. and Iraqi security forces raided a mosque in nearby Kufa, where they said insurgents stored weapons.</p><p>Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed shah, and the subsequent takeover of the U.S. Embassy by Iranian militant students, who seized dozens of American hostages.</p><p>The two countries periodically take small steps toward repairing their relationship through cultural and sports exchanges.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/5/168178