With incidences like an Egyptian Judo athlete refusing to shake the hand of his Israeli opponent happening in Rio this summer, anti-Israel Olympic Athletes could learn from two tennis stars of the past.
Back in 2002, a Pakistani and Israeli, a Muslim and a Jew, became a doubles team at Wimbledon. There was no statement made, no cause advanced, other than the bid to go as far they could in the Wimbledon draw.
Amir Hadad, an alum of the ITEC and a former coach at Ramat Hasharon, and Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan didn’t let religion or politics interfere with their sport. Hadad of Ramla, Israel, near Tel Aviv, said: “I know Aisam is very good on grass, good serve, good volley, and also I like him as a person. When he asked me to play, we didn’t even think it’s going to get so big.” That same attitude is what drives the ITEC’s coexistence program and is the spirit of the Olympic Games; that sport has the power to transcend the differences between people.