Wrestling Blogs - Noel Thompson

From Iran to Israel wrestling is the one brotherhood that takes you around the world...

I flew in on Sunday from JFK NYC direct to the holy land. I flew El Al which I was told the most secure airline in the world. I learned that very quickly.

Coming into this trip I knew there would be questions at customs and by government about my trip to Israel being that I went to Iran( and vise versa if it were the other way around).

I was waiting for my contingent at JFK in front of the airline when I was approached by the Mossad ( CIA equivalent). They do routine security checks and especially if they feel and individual has been hanging around an area too long.

They approached me and asked why I was going to Israel I said bc of the Maccabiah Games. He nodded and walked away. He came back again and asked why are my friends taking so long. I told them they are stuck in traffic.

Then he came back again with a diff agent and again until they finally asked my last name and took my passport for surveillance. I actually was impressed how meticulous and penetrating these guys were. It was as if they were wrestlers and continued to it single legs until my left leg stepped forward. I also felt safe that if there was someone of suspicion or concern the probability of them getting caught boarding was pretty high.

They discovered that I went to Iran and asked why? I told him for wrestling he said he was a wrestler and the people of Iran were good people. I was impressed him. He let me go once he felt comfortable with my visit and purpose there.

The sport of wrestling was my visa but I knew once I landed in Tel Aviv at customs the match could change.

I landed in Israel. We brought with us four boxes of donations for the inner city kids of Israel to support our branch of Beat The streets Israel. Avi did a fantastic job of getting the donations together. But getting the gifts and me through customs is another challenge.

I walk up to the customs officer and he asked if I played a sport I said wrestling .. Very nice guy, but he had to leave and said he was going on break and when he was relived it was a by a russian girl agent who he said was tougher than him.

I greeted her and said shalom... Her expression did not change finally she said her cousin wrestled on many Russian National teams we began to chat but I knew she would discover my Iranian visa. When she did she immediately, and very discreetly called for reinforcement to question my status and why I was taking this voyage epically when going to Persia when its apparent that is beyond the norm...

I said for the sake of sport and I called for my Israeli back up to diffuse any tension. She did not pursue bringing me in for questioning . My wrestling Visa worked again.

We made it now lets get down to business. Its 3am in Tel Aviv. I got to recharge the battery.

Coming soon...

The House of Jesus & Maccabiah Games Opening cermony.