Sport in Iran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many kinds of sports are practiced in Iran, both traditional and modern. Tehran, for example, was the first city in the Middle East to host the Asian Games in 1974, and continues to host and participate in major international sporting events to this day.
Some sports, such as figure skating or professional dancing, are in conflict with Islamic Sharia law and therefore not practiced by Iranian athletes.[citation needed]
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[edit] Traditional sports
[edit] Wrestling
Both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, particularly freestyle, are incredibly popular in Iran, often even referred to as its national sport. With a history of great wrestlers, such as Gholamreza Takhti, and considerable success in Olympic and World Championships, Iran is considered among the elite nations in the sport (along with the US and the former Soviet Bloc). One particular wrestler, Khosrow Vaziri, went on to compete in American professional wrestling under the name The Iron Sheik.
[edit] Polo
It is believed that Polo first originated in Persia ages ago. The poet Firdowsi described royal polo tournaments in his 9th century epic, the Shahnameh.
Despite the emphasis in Islam on learning the equestrian arts, in modern times, especially after the revolution, the equestrian sports fell out of favor in Iran, as they were associated with the aristocracy. And yet recent signs suggest that it may be witnessing a comeback[1] with renewed interest in the sport.[2]
[edit] Backgammon
Backgammon is a game that has had a following in Persia since ancient times.[3] Like Chess and some card games, it fell out of official favor after the revolution. However, this did not diminish its popularity with the general population. In recent years, restrictions on the game have been softened, but tournaments have yet to be officially sanctioned. And that is why backgammon is considered a tradtional sport.
[edit] Chess
Chess may have arrived Persia during the reign of Khusraw I Nûshîrwân (531-578 CE). Terminology and the names of pieces were translated into Persian, and its name changed to chatrang. Chess later spread from Persia into other nations in the Islamic world.
[edit] Popular sports
[edit] Football
Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport in Iran. Iran has been able to reach the Football World Cup finals three times, and its national team is among the football elite in Asia. Particularly in the past 10 years, with the privatization of soccer clubs and the launch of Iran's Premier Football League, considerable progress has been made. Many Iranian players now play in major European leagues, and many Iranian clubs have hired European players or coaches.
Like all other sports, adequate football facilities are limited in Iran. Iran's largest football stadium is the Azadi Stadium with a seating capacity of 100,000. Many of the top matches of Iran's Premier League are held here.
In July 2005, Iran's football team qualified for the Football World Cup 2006.
[edit] Weightlifting
Strength sports have always held favor among Iranians and with the recent success of world record-holding super-heavyweight lifter Hossein Reza Zadeh, the sport has been returned to a rather high status. Bodybuilding also holds favor among Iranians.
[edit] Skiing
Iran is home to numerous mountainous regions, many of which are suitable for skiing, and are gaining increasing popularity among foreign visitors.[4]
Skiing began in Iran in 1938 through the efforts of two German railway engineers. Today, 13 ski resorts operate in Iran,[5] the most famous being Tochal, Dizin, and Shemshak. All are within one to three hours travelling time of Tehran. Potentially suitable terrain can also be found in Lorestan, Mazandaran, and other provinces.
The Tochal resort is the world's fifth-highest ski resort at over 3,730 m at its highest 7th station. The resort was completed in 1976 shortly before the overthrow of the Shah. It is only a mere 15 minutes away from Tehran's northern districts, and operates 7 months a year. Here, one must first ride the 8 km (5 mile) long gondola lift which covers a huge vertical. The 7th station has three slopes. The resort's longest slope is the south side U shaped slope which goes from the 7th station to 5th station. The other two slopes are located on the north side of the 7th station. Here, there are two parallel chair ski lifts that go up to 3900 m near Tochal's peak (at 4,000 m), rising higher than the gondola 7th station station. This altitude is said to be higher than any of the European resorts.
From the Tochal peak, one has a spectacular view of the Alborz range, including the 5,671 metre (18,606 ft) high Mount Damavand, a dormant volcano.
At the bottom of the lifts in a valley behind the Tochal peak is Tochal hotel, located at 3500 m altitude. From there a T lift takes skiers up the 3,800 metres of Shahneshin peak, where the third slope of Tochal is.
See List of Iranian ski resorts for more details.
[edit] Martial arts
Due to the low cost and the great benefits for the individual, martial arts have exploded in popularity in Iran in the past 20 years. Kyokushin, Shotokan, Wushu, and Taekwondo are the most popular. There are even indigenous styles such as Shinzen Karate[6] or Kan-zen-ryu[7] and Sungjado.[8] One can now find dojos from almost every martial arts style in Iran, with relatively large numbers of followers.
[edit] Hiking, and climbing sports
Due to the wealth of mountains, climbing sports are widely popular in Iran. Both the Zagros and Alborz ranges provide plenty of opportunities for the novice and advanced alike.
Hiking and Trekking enthusiasts find opportunities in locations like Alamut and Tangeh Savashi to enjoy the rustic surroundings as well as a relatively challenging climb.
[edit] Others
Other popular sports in Iran are volleyball, rallying, and basketball.
In basketball, Iran has a national team, and a professional league, with good players in Asia. The clubs have begun hiring foreign players and coaches into their roster.
In rallying, female drivers have been allowed to participate in national rally tournaments, including Iran's successful female driver Laleh Seddigh.
[edit] Attendance at sporting events
Since the 1979 revolution, though never explicitly declared in the law, women were barred from attending football matches. In April 2006, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speculated about allowing women back into the stadiums.[9] It is uncertain if this measure would gain approval, since many hard-line clerics have voiced their opposition.[10] However, women are generally free to attend indoor sports events.
