Salam alaykum! Due to unforeseen circumstances, this week’s Friday Fill-in had to be pushed until Saturday. We’re so sorry for the delay. If you have a story or athlete you’d like to pitch for the Friday Fill-in, email us at TheAthleticUmmah@gmail.com.
The Headlines
CD Palestino releases Celtic FC-inspired jersey: Chilean football club CD Palestino has released a green and white hooped jersey named the “Green Brigade,” in reference to one of Scottish club Celtic FC’s supporters’ groups. Since its founding in 2006, Celtic’s Green Brigade has consistently supported Palestine’s cause. Their ultras have regularly waved Palestinian flags and banners at Celtic games, including several displays since Oct. 2023. The new third kit seems to be a gesture of thanks by Palestino, which was founded by Palestinian immigrants to Chile in 1920.
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup kicks off in Dubai: The 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup kicked off in Dubai, UAE, on Thursday, Feb. 15. It’s the 12th iteration of FIFA’s premier beach soccer championship, which has only been won by four different nations. The current edition features five Muslim-majority nations spread across Asia and Africa, though the host UAE and Iran were the only Muslim-majority teams to win their opening game.
Shooting after Kansas City Super Bowl parade kills one, injures 22 others: A mother was killed and 22 other people were injured after a mass shooting unfolded following Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII parade on Wednesday. The shooting appeared to stem from a dispute between several people, authorities said on Thursday. A news release from the Jackson County Family Court said two juveniles were charged Thursday and are being detained in the county’s Juvenile Detention Center “on gun-related and resisting arrest charges.” The release said it is “anticipated that additional charges are expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues.”
What You Might’ve Missed
Since we launched The Athletic Ummah in late October, Sarah and I have done our best to highlight the different ways athletes — professional and amateur — have supported the Palestinian cause. But one thing we noticed while covering this ongoing story is that the vast majority of athletes speaking out were not from the West or had a connection to Palestine through an ethnic, geographic or religious line.
When it came to Israel’s brutal assault on Palestinians, we noticed that professional athletes and organizations in the West often took the side of Israel, the West’s ally. At best, we’ve only seen some Western athletes make generic “neutral” pleas where they equally blamed both sides for the devastation (even though one side is very clearly being indiscriminately killed.)
That changed this week when an Athletes for Ceasefire statement — signed by athletes ranging from the WNBA to the UFC to the NFL — was released to the public. The statement called on all athletes to take a stand in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and save innocent lives.
“In the wake of an unfolding genocide in Gaza … we, as athletes, recognize our moral responsibility to utilize our platform for a higher purpose: to save human lives and to raise awareness about this ongoing tragedy,” the statement read.
The statement cites several statistics which show the extent of the devastation in Gaza, such as the number of Palestinians displaced (1.9 million) and the number of Palestinian athletes, athletic staff and administrators that have been killed by Israel (112). These numbers were accurate as of Feb. 1, so they’ve likely grown since then.
Although the statement was open for athletes across the world to sign, most of the signatories appear to be non-Muslim or based in the West. Some of the athletes who signed it are former American football player Kenny Stills (who seems to be a lead organizer of the statement), women’s basketball players Kierstan Bell and Layshia Clarendon, and Wrexham AFC’s James McClean.
The statement also calls on U.S. President Joe Biden to push for a ceasefire and to redirect resources benefitting Israel’s assault to more pressing domestic needs, such as education and helping the unhoused.
“We are unable to turn a blind eye to the devastation being inflicted on civilians, especially children, in the Gaza Strip, through [the] bombing campaign funded in part by the U.S.,” the statement said.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, a former NBA player who once refused to stand for the U.S. national anthem for the oppression it represented, said on Instagram an authentic ceasefire should happen “at the bare minimum.”
“Unfortunately, the fact that we have to suggest, ask, demand, plea for a ceasefire in light of the overwhelming evidence of genocide intentionally targeting innocent … men, women and children is insane,” his comment read.
The ceasefire call, which has been liked tens of thousands of times on Instagram, acknowledges the right of Palestinians to live in peace and security. It ends by referencing Olympians John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s human rights salute during the 1968 Games; and praising boxer Muhammad Ali, who stood for Palestinian freedom throughout his life.
“We stand on the shoulders of these giants in our efforts to keep this tradition of athlete of conscience alive,” the statement said.
Bravo to all of the athletes who signed this statement and called for the end of Israel’s brutal slaughter of innocent Palestinians.
Muslim Athlete of the Week
If you were to ask me what I’d like to achieve athletically if I turn 100 years old, I’d tell you I’d just like to be able to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen without assistance. If I can achieve that as a 100-year-old, alhamdulillah, I will be happy with my health.
The last thing I’d probably tell you is I’d want to dive into an Olympic-sized swimming pool, in front of the watching eyes of professional athletes, diving officials and fans.
But then again, I’m not Taghi Asgari.
73 years since diving to a silver and bronze medal at the inaugural Asian Games in India, Asgari was once again on the springboard. This time, the Iranian sportsman was at the 2024 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha, Qatar — and he was about to perform a special 1m dive to mark the two-week countdown to the aquatics championships.
With Iran’s flag waving on the television screens, the 100-year-old Asgari made his way to the 1m diving board. When on the board, he looked ahead, took a deep breath and drank in the moment.
When he felt ready, he extended his arms, arched his back into a diving position, and dove hands first into the pool. He then swam to the edge of the pool — all by himself — as the crowd of spectators and athletes cheered him on.
Asgari was awarded a ceremonial medal for his exhibition dive. The standing ovation that followed caused him to break into tears.
Although the dive was a ceremonial one, it was also a sneak peek at Asgari’s ability ahead of the 2024 World Aquatics. In two weeks, the Iranian is going to compete in the competition in two weeks, where he will be the oldest competitor.
It will mark his first competition since he first retired from the sport as a 41-year-old, when he won a gold medal in a national diving competition.
“For me, I have had a love of diving since I was a teenager until today. I have always loved diving,” he said. “Nothing has changed between 1951 and now, except my performance.”
Asgari currently lives in his birthplace of Shemiran on the slopes of Alborz mountain range, north of the capital Tehran.
His advice for the next generation of divers is to hold onto two key fundamentals.
“The only thing I want to tell you is about loving this sport and to keep yourself healthy,” he said. “This can be a good motivation for you to attend these championships and different championships.”
It’s hard not to feel inspired by Asgari, not just for his courage to take on the dive in front of hundreds of people, but for keeping himself healthy and active enough that he can even attempt such a dive as a centenarian. I’m 26 years old and I already feel like my movements are slower than they once were — I highly doubt I’ll be able to dive and swim like Asgari if I hit 100.
People like Asgari should be celebrated for the incredible way they’ve taken care of their bodies and health. For this reason, he’s our Muslim Athlete of the Week.
Headline image credit: FINA/YouTube