Azadi’s 12,000-seat indoor hall in Tehran held a ceremony to celebrate the National Paralympics Week on Sunday and see off the Iran athletic team to the Second Asian Para Games, Incheon, 2014.
Intellectually and physically challenged school children as well as sports officials and athletes attended the event, IRNA reported.
The entire hall was decorated with pictures of the London 2012 Paralympics winners.
Slogans on a banner hung in the indoor stadium read ‘Disability is not Limitation’, and ‘Trust, Empowerment, Hope, and Happiness en route to Paralympics.’
A performance by the army navy band started the program. Later, a number of disabled athletes on horseback carried and waved the national Paralympics committee flag.
IOC Chief’s Message
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president’s message was screened and the message of the special adviser to the UN secretary general was also read out.
Later in the program, a number of athletes performed ‘zurkhaneh’ (an ancient Iranian sport) movements. Also TV hosts Rambod Javan, ‘Amoo’ Pourang, and Amir-Hossein entertained the audience.
The physically challenged athletes will take part in events such as cycling, table tennis, boccia, and wheelchair basketball and perform some sporting shows at the Paralympics games which open on October 18. About 4,500 athletes from 41 countries will be competing in 23 events at the games which conclude on October 24.
