Ehud Vaks

Ehud ( Udi ) Vak (* June 27, 1979 ) is an Israeli judoka.

His first international success came Vak 2000 by winning the A- tournament in Minsk and a second place in the A- tournament in the Austrian Leon thing. In 2001 he achieved a third place in the A- tournament in Sofia. The same position he succeeded in 2003 with the A - tournament in Tbilisi. 2004 was awarded second tournament victory of his career Vak in Tbilisi.

At the Olympic Games in Athens Vak was at the center of a political scandal. In the half- light weight, the weight category up to 66 kilograms, provided for the draw that Vak has to compete in the first round against the two-time Iranian judo champion Arash Miresmaeili.

Then said Miresmaeili that he would not compete against Vak to express in this way his sympathy for the Palestinian people.

This statement came ahead of the Games with harsh criticism. Nevertheless Miresmaeili was able to take on the Iranian Olympic team as a flag bearer during the opening ceremony at the invasion of the athletes. On August 14, 2004 Miresmaeili withdrew its boycott threat back. However, he was not admitted to the competition, because he next day at the official weigh exceed the weight limit of 66 kilograms.

It has been widely assumed that Miresmaeili have provoked a disqualification aware. Speaking to the press Miresmaeili said: "Although I 've been training for months and was in good shape, I refused to play against my Israeli opponent to express my sympathy for the suffering of the Palestinian people. And I 'm not upset. "

Comments Iranian politicians supported this stance. The Iranian state news agency quoted the Iranian president Mohammad Chātemī, Miresmaeilis behavior would " find their way into the history of Iranian glories " and the Iranian people will hold it " for the winner of the 2004 Olympic Games ."

By Miresmaeilis disqualification Vak came without a fight in the second round. There he was defeated by Algerian Amar Meridja.