MP calls for more investment and dedication in Iranian sports
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
A member of the Iranian Parliament says more investment needs to be made in the sports to contribute to the country’s status on the international stage.
Speaking to Iran Daily, Ramezan-Ali Sangdovini said: “We have no choice but to acquire the modern-day techniques, tactics, and science, if the Iranians are to reach the global heights of the sport.”
Sangdovini’s remarks came days after the 19th Asian Games concluded in Hangzhou, China, where the Iranian 285-athlete delegation grabbed 13 golds, 21 silvers and 20 bronzes to finish seventh in the overall medals table.
Some believe Iran’s run in the Games will fairly go down as a failure, as the number of the golds was seven short of the figure the Iranians tallied for a sixth-place finish in Jakarta-Palembang 2018 – the lowest for the country since 2006, when Iran grabbed 11 gold medals in Doha.
Iran’s total medal haul was also down by eight from five years ago, though the country was represented by 93 more athletes in Indonesia.
Still, the Iranian sport reveled in some historic achievements in certain competitions – namely gymnastics, roller skating, chess, table tennis, and mountain cycling.
“Given the investment and efforts made in the sports in the country, I don’t think we could expect more success than what the Iranians already achieved in the Games, while you have to give credit to some of the athletes for collecting first-ever medals for the country,” the Iranian lawmaker said.
Asked about the importance of investing in sports, Sangdovini said: “Nowadays, sport plays a massive role in promoting the countries worldwide as it is among the factors by which a nation’s development and status are measured. You could see in the Asian Games how some countries, with a relatively low profile in other fields, established themselves as successful in the sports.”
“When you look at other countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Korea, and even Uzbekistan and Mongolia, you can see how they have contributed to the development of the sports,” Sangdovini added.
With less than a year until the Paris Olympics, the outcome in Hangzhou was a wakeup call for certain federations in Iran and Sangdovini believes more work needs to be done if the Iranians are to succeed in the French capital.
“We have to make sure that the Iranian athletes will have no personal life concerns when preparing for the Olympics,” said the Iranian MP.
“I went to meet with Mahdi Olfati last week to congratulate him on his vault silver at the Asian Games, which was a maiden gymnastics medal for the country in the history of the event. When I saw his poor training facilities, I could realize what a great job done he has done in competing with some high-profile athletes from China, South Korea, and the Chinese Taipei.
“You can see how massively the Saudis have invested in football, as the sum they paid to Cristiano Ronaldo to bring him to their league is roughly equal to the Iranian Sport Ministry’s annual budget. That’s what makes the difference between us and them. The Iranian athletes surely possess the talent and skills; all they need is more support,” added the member of the Parliament, who also underlined the “shortcomings in the sporting infrastructures” as the main reason behind some Iranian athletes leaving the country to embark on a new career elsewhere.