By Associated Press, The Washington Post
LONDON — With the London Games fast approaching and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan already here, Muslim athletes are faced with a dilemma of Olympian proportions.
Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk during the 30-day month of Ramadan, which began Friday in most countries.
During long summer days in London, that translates into 18 hours of fasting — something that many Muslim athletes consider impossible to do without losing their competitive edge.
Many of the 3,500 or so Muslim athletes expected to compete at the London Olympics will keep eating as usual.
“I could not fast. I need all that stuff, like protein, carbs and minerals,” Egyptian kayaker Mustafa Saied told The Associated Press. “I can do it after Ramadan and Allah will accept it because there was an important reason.”
Some have looked for Islamic tenets that allow exemptions from fasting, such as for those traveling. Others decided to postpone fasting until after competitions, and some will compensate for the lost days with charity work or by donating to the poor.
“It’s impossible for us to fast Ramadan during the London Olympics,” said Yasser Hefny, an Egyptian modern pentathlete. “We have five disciplines to perform. We do a lot of effort during the whole day.”
The High Egyptian Islamic Council gave athletes a reprieve by announcing a fatwa, or religious edict, stating that Olympic athletes are not required to fast during coaching or competition.
Egyptian pentathlon coach Sherif al-Eryan said athletes have also sought guidance from a cleric before traveling to London and had decided not to fast during the games. Like other athletes, al-Erayn said, they will have their “full menu in an open buffet” in the athletes village.
Martin Meissner, file/Associated Press – FILE – The Sept. 1, 2011 file photo shows Iran’s Maryam Toosi as she looks up at the timing board after competing in a Women’s 200m qualification heat at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, With the London Games fast approaching and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan already here, Muslim athletes are now faced with a dilemma of Olympian proportions.
What a strange dilemma that not a single athlete/sportsman, out of 3500 Muslim players taking part in London Olympics,nor the officials of different sports organisation of more than 56 OIC, Muslim countries,had the knowledge of the clash of dates of Olympics and the Fasting month of Muslim Ramadan.Such a conflicting situation arose because none of the Muslim states, shape their scheduled programs,by using the Islamic Calender.Practically all the Musalmaan use the Christian era Calender. I am sure, had there been some Ahmadi Muslim somewhere in these sports organisations, he would have pointed out such an issue/flaw or date-clash right at the earliest stage forcing the top responsible one to demand a few days of dates to shift so that the Olympics does not interfere with the holy Fasting Ramadan. But who cares for such matters as inquiries start pouring in about who and why of things around.Anyhow let all of us,now, wait and see how many Gold,Silver and brown medals are won by these 3500 Muslim athletes?.