In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A model human being
A healthy mind is in a healthy body. In the same way that it trains the body and make it healthy, also make the mind healthy; and if the mind becomes healthy, the purification of the soul must follow. In the same way that you engage in sporting activities and strengthen your nervous system, and God willing you will turn out to be useful for the country and its future; it is essential that you bring all aspects of your existence under physical education. Hadrat `Ali (`a) we hear of his name wherever we go; when we go to the jurists- fuqaha- it is the jurisprudence- fiqh- of `Ali; when we go to the devout it is the devotion of `Ali; when we go to the mystics, they too talk of the mysticism of `Ali; when we to the sportsmen also, they also take the name of `Ali and begin their sports with his name. `Ali is everything. In other words, he is number one in all aspects of humanity. Therefore, every household brings themselves close to him. Moreover, he has the characteristic feature of every class. He has the distinctive strength of sportsmen in an abundant manner. They say that the arms of his holiness were like iron. And the power of his swordsmanship was such that the blows he dealt with his sword were famously known as being singly fatal. Every blow in whichever direction that he swung his sword would slice a person into two halves. This `Ali is everything. And, as our everything, we must all be his followers. In worship, he is above all worshippers; in piety, he is above all the pious; in battle, he is the greatest of all fighters; in strength, he is the strongest of the strong. «1» In addition, he is a phenomenon who is an enigma that combines contrasting features. «2» A pious man cannot be a sportsman anymore; a worshipper cannot also be a fighter; a religious custodian cannot have anything to do with these matters- he is an exemplary human being- at the same time, everyone regards his devotion to be superior to all. His food, as you all have heard and it is there everywhere in history, was such that he had a vessel in which he would put whatever he wanted to eat and would seal the lid so that his offspring, his son, his daughter would not add anything nourishing such as oil, meat etc. to the food out of pity for him. And he would seal the lid so that they would not have access to it. On the very last night, which was the last night of his life, it is narrated that he was the guest of Her Holiness Kulthoum and they brought milk and salt for him to break his fast. It is said that he said;" When have you seen me eat two types of complete food?" Her Holiness wanted to take away the salt but he protested," No, take away the milk." And they broke their fasts with only the salt. And he himself says that it was amazing that with such a diet, he had this strength. Later he states that the trees in the wilderness are stronger. These trees that grow in the wilderness, consume less water and so their wood burns more strongly and are tougher. And it is not that a human being becomes strong by eating. «3»
In any case, this `Ali is everything to us. He is everything. And I hope that you the sportsmen in the same manner that you strengthen your bodies- and praise be to God, you are seated here with those robust arms and I praise them very much- in the same way follow in the footsteps of Hadrat `Ali (`a) in those qualities that he had; in the devotion that he had; in the piety that he had. Of course, none of us has the power to be like him; we can to an extent that is within our power, follow the example of that man, and purify our inner self. In addition, I hope that you will be useful for your country and be a source of honor for your country. May God, grant you more strength, power of faith, power to purify your inner self and power of control over your inner self. Peace be upon all of you the honorable youth.
[In the end, after brief verbal exchanges between Imam Khomeini and the sportsmen, in reply to one of the audiences, who demanded that the national anthem of Iran be changed, he stated:]
Previously, everything was determined by foreigners; by the English; by the Americans. Now with the efforts of everyone we must free ourselves from dependence. The imperial anthem cannot be played anymore. It is over now. The anthem of" Islamic Republic" must take its place. May you all be successful, God willing.