Thaindian News

London, Mar 13 (ANI): Iran has indicated that its athletes would compete in the 2012 Olympics in London despite complaining that the Games logo resembles the word “Zion”.

Last month, Iran had urged the International Olympic Committee to change the graphic, after complaining that its resemblance to the word Zion, a Biblical term for Israel, was racist, the BBC reports.

The Iranian-backed Press TV, however, quoted an official as saying that Iran would take part in the event.

“Our decision, to partake in the Olympic Games, has nothing to do with the UK politicians. We will make co-ordination with officials of the International Olympic Comittee and we will participate and play gloriously in London Games,” Secretary of Iran’s Olympic organising committee, Bashram Afsharzadeh, said.

In its original letter to the IOC, Iran had called for the Games logo to be withdrawn and its designers “confronted”. There was also a suggestion that Iranian athletes would be told not to attend.

At that time, IOC President Jacques Rogge told BBC Sport: “No, it can’t be serious. We will quietly reply, telling Iran that the logo has nothing to do with racism or any political connotation.”

The complaint was also dismissed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said the Iranians would not be missed if they did not attend.

“It’s completely paranoid. If the Iranians don’t want to come, don’t come - we won’t miss you. It would be a crazy reason for not coming,” Cameron had said. (ANI)