Water Polo Team Rocks the Anthem: A Bold Move Amidst Iranian Protest
What the Video Really Shows
Late last week, a clip went viral showing Iran’s men’s water‑polo squad literally holding their breath as the national anthem swelled through the arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Instead of singing along, the players raised an almost‑devastated silence that sent a ripple of applause its way.
Why This Matters
In a world where sports weddings with politics are as common as the Olympic rings, this silent protest has become a beacon of solidarity for activists battling Iran’s hard‑liners.
The Crackling Context
- Protests exploded in September after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini — a young Kurdish woman facing a police “dress code” crackdown.
- Now, a month on, students, doctors, lawyers and athletes are marching, chanting, and holding their breath on street corners, demanding a shake‑up of the regime.
- The Basij militia and other forces have been relentless, but the manifesto of the protests keeps swelling: end the strict Islamist rule under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
From the Water‑Polo Watermark to Wider Echoes
One unverified Twitter user called the team’s silence “radical” and praised the sporting stars for their support. Even a Kurdish‑rights group, Hengaw, noted that shopkeepers in Zahedan and Valiasr are closing shops to honor the 66 victims who were killed there. Witnesses say the authorities even fired the local police chief.
What the Authorities Say
Rumours swirl and Reuters couldn’t confirm the footage. Meanwhile, the Iranian Swimming Federation is on a communications blackout. The deputy sports minister, Maryam Kazemipour, has said that some female athletes “acted against… Islamic norms” and now apologized. A mixed bag of feelings forms the backdrop.
The Takeaway
Fans can’t just admire headlines; they can glimpse athletes turning the tide even in the smallest moments. And while protestors continue to march, a simple moment of silence in a swimming pool keeps the spirit alive, stirring hope that the chorus of change will finish proving louder than any anthem.
—
Support from athletes
When Olympic Sand Meets Protest: Iran’s Sports Scene Gets a Stand‑Up Twist
Last weekend saw a splash of rebellion on the sand, while the water polo squad was already teasing the authorities with a silent boycott of the national anthem. It’s been the latest chapter in Iran’s sports‑people holding up a banner for the protest movement—once again, they’ve taken the “silent treatment” seriously.
Beach Soccer Goes Silent
In a match against the UAE in Dubai, the Iranian beach‑soccer team gave a record‑low performance: a complete refusal to sing the anthem before kick‑off. The move was highlighted by the fire‑brand activist Twitter handle 1500TASVIR, which tracks every splash and sound of dissent in the sports world.
- They stayed mute when the crowd cheered.
- Even after defeating Brazil to claim the title, the players didn’t throw a toss of the confetti.
- One player’s unusual celebration—pretending to crop his hair—served as a nod to the women’s “hair‑cut” protest that has become the voice of the campaign.
The beach‑football federation’s quick‑fire response was to call the athletes’ actions “unwise.” But the backlash didn’t stop there.
Students & Media Meet the Ministry
Student activist Mehdi Andarziyan scolded the sports ministry: “If you’d slapped the beach‑soccer athletes, the water polo squad wouldn’t have snubbed the anthem!” The comment was a nudge that the government’s silence is almost as loud of a protest as the players’ silence.
Skating Without a Headscarf (And Reversing the Issue)
Niloufar Mardani, a skater from Tehran, pitched herself under scrutiny while she pretended to have removed her headscarf in a Turkish competition. A shaky video on Telegram (unverified by Reuters) claimed she was apologizing—yet she insisted she’d simply taken off her helmet, oblivious to the veil’s fall. This, she said, was just a “foreign media” manipulation.
- Iran’s sports ministry declared Mardani hadn’t got official clearance to compete in Turkey.
- She’s no longer considered a part of the national team.
What Them Numbers Say
According to activist outlet HRANA, 321 people have been killed during the ongoing unrest, including 50 children. State media’s last update claimed more than 46 security force members lost their lives.
Meanwhile, the exhibition of the water‑polo squad’s loudly silent anthem boycott is just another sign that the Iranian sports community is keeping the rebellion afloat—water‑riding the waves of protest.
