Muslims' anger as London Olympics clash with Ramadan

[MrsGoof]

Didn't the triple jumper Jonathan Edwards or whatever his name was, refuse to participate in major comp because it happened to be on a sunday.

Yep , he missed out on several champinoships, untill he reconciled with himself that it was acceptable.
Same with the bloke in Charriots of Fire, missed his main event due to it being on a Sunday, but ended up winning a gold in another event.

Looks like personal choice is the way ahead for the rational thinker, but since when has rational been associated with our nice peace loving, tollerent friends!

[Flubster]

Same with the bloke in Charriots of Fire, missed his main event due to it being on a Sunday, but ended up winning a gold in another event.

As per my earlier reply regarding Eric Liddel...

[hattra]

This is a special occasion and they can get dispensation not to do the things they required to do during Ramadan.

IIRC I don't think they have any form of "dispensation" per se, in that you can't just get let off by a priest for instance. Certain categories are excused, and the athletes involved would probably qualify under the provisions for travellers away from home for a short period (usually up to about 10 days). There is also provision for making up the missed days of fasting at a a later time (though if you intentionally break the fast, that can mean that you have to fast for up to 60 days), and for paying a "penance" by feeding a hungry person. Of course, they could just ignore the whole thing - not everybody from an Islamic country is a devout Muslim - I remember regularly serving "muslim" guests with alchohol in our years in Qatar, Iraq and Saudi.

[snaw]

Quite right snaw - free of politics and religion, and it's religion that is pissing these mozzies off so I'm not quite sure why you've got any sympathy for their argument.

Are we shouting from the rooftops at mozzie countries to allow public consumption of alcohol, which is western culture? Are we feck. If a westerner has a problem with that they just don't go there.

The 2012 olympics had to fit in with more practical considerations, such as the weather and the European footy championships.

It's easy really, if some mozzies don't like it then don't feckin go. At least it would reduce the risk of another Munich.

Because this could easily have been avoided.

Not sure where you get the arguement that Muslims (WTF is mozzies supposed to be, some half arsed insult?) can break the fast to play sport. I'm guessing there wasn't too much of that going on back in Saudi 1300 years ago - you can only break it to travel and if you're sick.

The striker in my fitbaw team is muslim, gotta take my hat off to him - plays a full game, well, and doesn't touch a drop of water atm. Not sure that would work with Olympic level athletes though ...

There is an irony on people on this thread whinging (There's a fecking surprise) about people whinging. To just write of the legitimate complaint of 25% of the competitors and a significant chunk of of the countries of the world, just cause they're muslim is a bit off imo.

[Forumbore]

Because this could easily have been avoided.

. I'm guessing there wasn't too much of that going on back in Saudi 1300 years ago - .

You have hit the nail on the head, their religion has not changed with the times since. If they choose religion ahead of sport then that is their choice.

There is an irony about people whingeing about people whingeing about people whingeing about muslims whingeing about the rest of the world failing to organise its life around their beliefs and agendas.

[snaw]

You have hit the nail on the head, their religion has not changed with the times since. If they choose religion ahead of sport then that is their choice.

There is an irony about people whingeing about people whingeing about people whingeing about muslims whingeing about the rest of the world failing to organise its life around their beliefs and agendas.

Ahh well then, I never realised you were an aussie. Of course sport should come before religion. Silly me.

Dunno that I'd classify me saying that maybe muslims have a case for being a wee bit pissed off with the timing of the Olympics as whinging, but if so then I guess you go through life listening to whinging all day long.

[Mailman]

What the feck are you going on about snaw?

They have nothing to whinge about...there are enough loop holes in their religion to drive a bomb laden taxi through that would allow their athletes to compete.

Perhaps though they need to realise that the world DOESNT have to organise itself around them...for a change.

Mailman

[Forumbore]

Ahh well then, I never realised you were an aussie. Of course sport should come before religion. Silly me.

Dunno that I'd classify me saying that maybe muslims have a case for being a wee bit pissed off with the timing of the Olympics as whinging, but if so then I guess you go through life listening to whinging all day long.

Sport is far more important than religion. Look how countries connect to the enemies (India Pakistan and cricket) and the outside world through sport. Sport lifts people (unless you are an Arsenal supporter) whereas religion is subversive controlling and of course is the major cause of conflict.

[stackpole]

Because this could easily have been avoided.

Not sure where you get the arguement that Muslims (WTF is mozzies supposed to be, some half arsed insult?) can break the fast to play sport. I'm guessing there wasn't too much of that going on back in Saudi 1300 years ago - you can only break it to travel and if you're sick.

The striker in my fitbaw team is muslim, gotta take my hat off to him - plays a full game, well, and doesn't touch a drop of water atm. Not sure that would work with Olympic level athletes though ...

There is an irony on people on this thread whinging (There's a fecking surprise) about people whinging. To just write of the legitimate complaint of 25% of the competitors and a significant chunk of of the countries of the world, just cause they're muslim is a bit off imo.

snaw, you said, and I quote: "the Olympics is an event which, in principle, is meant to be free of politcis and religion and all that other bollocks."

So why is this, and I quote you again, a "legitimate complaint of 25% of the competitors and a significant chunk of of the countries of the world"?

[snaw]

Cause we've scheduled the bloody thing to conflict with thier holy month, they can't change when that takes place but we could have been a little more sensitive to that and scheduled it a week later. Problem solved.

Given muslims can't eat or drink during the daylight hours then clearly this causes an issue, not of their making. When I say that the Olympics should be free of religion, I mean exactly that - there should be no room for this kind of religious dilema for a sginificant portion of the participants.