President Calls on Athletes to Win Honors in London

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the Iranian athletes to do their best in London Olympics 2012 and win medals for the Iranian nation.

Addressing a ceremony to honor the champions and medal winners in 2011 held at Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, he added that London Olympics is a great event and the enemies cannot see the success of the Iranian youth, IRNA reported.

He hoped that the Iranian nation would attain its lofty goals to extract admiration of other nations who strive for economic development and prosperity.

He said that he wished to accompany the athletes to the international competition, a reference to the honor the president confers on the Iranian youth.

“I would like to be next to our young athletes at the 2012 Olympics but the host has a problem with this,” Ahmadinejad said during a meeting with Iranian athletes who have qualified for the Olympics.

So far some 50 Iranian athletes have qualified to participate in the Olympics in several sports, including weightlifting, wrestling, shooting, track and field, and table tennis.