Iran’s President praises Paralympians at special ceremony

Iran’s Paralympians who competed at Rio 2016 were honoured at a special ceremony held in the country’s capital city of Tehran on Saturday (4 March), and hosted by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani.

The Minister of Sports and Youth, and Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s National Olympic and Paralympic Committees and Sports Federations also attended the event.

Powerlifter Siamand Rahman, the world’s strongest Paralympian who lifted an unprecedented 310kg in the men’s over 107kg at last year’s Paralympic Games, thanked the Iranian Government and Parliament for their support of Para sport in all levels.

Rouhani said that supporting Olympic and Paralympic sports are the government’s biggest priority.

“An athlete is a human full of hope and exhilaration, who has made himself stronger to bring livelihood to his nation and his country,” he said.

Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, who tragically died following an accident during the men’s road race at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, was also honoured at the ceremony.

In Rio, Iran won 24 medals overall, including eight golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes.