TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran vowed on Saturday to the International Judo Federation to abide by Olympic rules and compete with every country, including Israel, in a move described by Israel as historic after many Iranian athletes failed to confront their Israeli counterparts in past competitions.
Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the Iranian Olympic Committee had promised the International Judo Federation to follow the Olympic rules and compete with athletes from all countries, including Israeli athletes, and said this had not happened before.
The Iranian Olympic Committee said in a letter sent on Saturday to the President of the Hungarian International Judo Federation Marius Pfizer, that it is committed to meeting the Olympic rules and compete with any country.
"We are witnessing a historic day," President of the Israeli Judo Union Moshe Ponte commented on the Iranian decision.
"Recently, there have been many meetings with the president of the International Judo Federation, which has led Iran to cancel the boycott of its players to their Israeli counterparts," Ponte said. "The Iranians are committed to participating in all matches and to maintaining a sporting spirit without creating further injuries or counterfeiting weights."
The Israeli minister expressed his happiness with the step taken by Iran and its gratitude to the President of the International Federation of the game to help Israel to reach this day, and expressed the hope that this decision to push other sectors of Iran to take similar decisions.
Iranian players avoid confronting their Israeli counterparts, where Iran does not recognize Israel, while Tel Aviv regards Tehran as its main enemy.
Iran's world champion Saeed Moulay set the final in the Grand Slam judo tournament in February to avoid the Israeli final match against Saguy Muki.