1. In The Name Of God 1

2. Subject: Sport in my homeland (Iran) Relevant master: 2

3. Sport in Iran Many sports in Iran are both traditional and modern. Tehran, for example, was the first city in West Asia to host the Asian Games in 1974, and continues to host and participate in major international sporting events to this day. Freestyle wrestling has been traditionally regarded as Iran's national sport, however today, football is the most popular sport in Iran. Because of economic sanctions, the annual government's budget for sport was about $80 million in 2010 or about $1 per person. 3

4. Sports and athletic exercises were among the most fundamental daily pursuits of the people in Ancient Iran. The society attached special status to sportsmen who thanks to their physical strength and courage, defended their family and homeland when the need arose. They were welcomed everywhere with much enthusiasm, the people took much pride in their sportsmen and praised and admired them for their courageous deeds. According to their religious teaching, the Iranian Zoroastrians in their prayers sought first the beauties of heaven and then physical strength and mental power. They believed in a healthy and powerful body. The ancient Iranians attached spiritual meaning to their spoils activities which they modeled on their weapons. Even the Mages (religious sages) while engaging in prayers in their temples held a mace in their hands, not unlike the British bishops who hung swords on their belts... History 4

5. Sportswomen Since 1979, women athletes have been subject to strict requirements when competing in Iran or abroad, with the Iranian Olympic Committee stating that "severe punishment will be meted out to those who do not follow Islamic rules during sporting competitions". The committee banned women athletes from competing in Olympic events where a male referee could come into physical contact with them.[4] At the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics combined, a total of six women represented Iran. In 2016, Iran made global headlines for international female community after Iran got its first golden medal achieved by a woman. This also was a record in the MENA region. 5

6. Iran sport organization 1935: National Sports Association 1960: Integration into the Education Ministry 1971: Sports and Recreation Organization 1977: Dissolution and fusion with the Education Ministry (for the 2nd time) 1979–present: Independent Physical Education Organization (part of the Government) 2011: Proposal in Parliament to merge the National Youth Organization with the Physical Education Organization. Sports categories Championship sports: see also: National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Sports education: see also: Education in Iran Public sport: see also: Health in Iran 6

7. Bodybuilding Bodybuilding in Iran is very popular among the younger generation. Some professional bodybuilders of Iranian descent include Baitollah Abbaspour, Javad Nabavi, Mohamad Farokh, Ali Tabrizi, Hamid Manafi and Zohair Al Karbelaie ("Arnold" of Fallah!) 7

8. Wrestling Wrestling has a very long tradition and history in Iran and often even referred to as its national sport. There are many styles of folk wrestling, from Varzesh-e Pahlavani to Zurkhaneh which have similarities with modern freestyle wrestling. Both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, particularly freestyle, are popular in Iran. Mazandaran is the main power in the country and wrestling is part of its culture. Tehran, Kermanshah, Khorasan and Hamedan also produce many talented wrestlers. With a history of great wrestlers, such as Gholamreza Takhti (two-time champion at freestyle wrestling World Championships: 1959 and 1961), Iran is considered among the elite nations in this sport. 8

9. 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. Polo competitions are the subject of many traditional paintings in Iran. Despite the emphasis in Islam on learning the equestrian arts, in modern times, especially after the 1979 Iranian revolution, the equestrian sports fell out of favor in Iran, as they were associated with the aristocracy. However, recent signs suggest that it may be witnessing a comeback,[5] with renewed interest in the sport. Horse racing is a very popular sport between Turkmens of Iran, and there are two great Gymnasium of horse racing at Gonbad Kavous and Bandar Torkaman. 9

10. Chess The origin of chess is a disputed issue, but evidence exists to give credence to the theory that chess originated in India and later it came to Iran. 10

11. Association football Football is the most popular sport in Iran. Iran has been able to qualify for the FIFA World Cup five times (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018), won the AFC Asian Cup three times (1968, 1972 and 1976), and four times has won gold medal at the Asian Games (1974, 1990, 1998 and 2002). Particularly in the past 10 years, with the launch of Iran's Premier Football League; considerable progress has been made. Some Iranian players now play in major European leagues, and some Iranian clubs have hired European players or coaches. 11

12. Basketball In basketball, Iran has a particularly strong national team, and a professional league, with competitive players in Asia. The clubs have begun hiring strong foreign players and coaches into their roster. The national team participated in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, finishing 1-3. They competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, thanks to their gold medal in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, their first ever continental crown. The first ever Iranian NBA-player is Hamed Haddadi. 12

13. Weightlifting Strength sports like weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding have always held favor among Iranians and with the recent success of world record-holding super-heavyweight lifter Hossein Reza Zadeh, or Sidney Olympics gold medalist, Hossein Tavakoli, the sport has been returned to a rather high status. 13

14. Skiing Iran is home to numerous mountainous regions, many of which are suitable for skiing, and snowboarding and are gaining increasing popularity among foreign visitors. Skiing began in Iran in 1938 through the efforts of two German railway engineers. Today, 13 ski resorts operate in Iran, the most famous being Tochal, Dizin, and Shemshak. All are within one to three hours traveling time of Tehran. Potentially suitable terrain can also be found in Lorestan, Mazandaran, and other provinces. 14

15. 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. 15

16. Martial arts Martial arts have gained popularity in Iran in the past 20 years. Kyokushin, shotokan, wushu, judo, and taekwondo are the most popular. Iran competed in the International Judo Federation (IJF) until 2019, when it was barred after 2018 world champion Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei said he was ordered to throw a match to avoid facing an Israeli judoka.[6] The incident resulted in Mollaei's flight to Germany, after Iran persecuted him and his family in retaliation for the international humiliation. 16

17. Volleyball In volleyball, Iran has a national team, and a professional league. The Iran national volleyball team is among the strongest teams in the world, and the Iranian Youth and Junior (Under-19 and Under-21) national teams are among the top three strongest teams in the world, winning medals in Boys' U19 Volleyball World Championship and Men's U21 Volleyball World Championship in recent years. In the 2007 Men's U21 Volleyball World Championship, the Iranians were successful at earning a bronze medal. Also, in late August 2007, the Iran national under-19 volleyball team surprised many by winning the gold medal in the Volleyball World Championship in Mexico, after beating France and China in the semi-finals and finals respectively and marking the first such international gold medal for an Iranian team sport. 17

18. Futsal Futsal is practiced both at the amateur and professional levels. As of January 2019, Iran's men's national futsal team ranks 6th in world rankings after Brazil, Spain, Russia, Portugal, and Argentina. [1] Iran has won the AFC Futsal Championship nine times out of ten and reached the FIFA Futsal World Cup finals five times. Iran also has a nationwide Futsal Super League. 18

19. Other sports Another popular sport in Iran is rallying. Female drivers have been allowed to participate in national rally tournaments, including Iran's successful female driver Laleh Seddigh. 19

20. Attendance at sporting events Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, though never explicitly declared in the law, women were barred from attending men's football, swimming and wrestling competitions.[8] 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. 20

21. Refrence http://www.presstv.com/program/153840.html Vast majority of Iranians don't get regular exercise Radio Zamaneh, June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015. 69 Percent Of Young Iranians Use Software To Get Around Internet Filtering: Survey. Tehran Times. Retrieved December 20, 2016. Iran: Women excluded from sports in the name of Islam. ADNKronos International (2007-12-19). Retrieved on 2010-02-23. "Polo comes back home to Iran". 22 September 2005 – via bbc.co.uk. "Iran barred indefinitely from world judo over refusal to face Israelis". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 22 October 2019. Bandler, Aaron. "Iran Banned from Judo Competition." Jewish Journal. 22 October 2019. 22 October 2019. Iran football ticket 'glitch' gave female fans hope - BBC, 4 September 2017 BBC: Sporting chance for Iranian women, 24 April 2006 Frances Harrison, BBC: Iran clergy angry over women fans, 26 April 2006 21

22. End Thank you for your attention 22