The First International Students’ Sports Olympiad of the Consortium of the Five High Ranking Iranian Universities was inaugurated in the presence of athletes, authorities and representatives from six universities at Shahid Chamran’s sports complex.
According to the International Relations’ department, the inauguration of this Olympiad took place in the presence of foreign students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, University of Tehran, San’ati Sharif Polytechnic University and Amir Kabir Polytechnic University on Thursday, February 29th.
The Cooperation of the Best Iranian Universities is the Best Way to Expand International Relations
In his speech, Dr. Kordi, the director of International Relations’ department, underlined the importance of sportsmanship and said: “National Iranian heroes and champions such as Gholam-reza Takhti or Pouria-ye Vali didn’t owe their fame to their wins, but to their fair play attitude and their sportsmanship during competitions”. He also underlined the role of these competitions in boosting the students’ physical activities, especially since the statistics show that 25% of people worldwide don’t have enough physical activity which will have its dire effect on their health.
He insisted on the role of academia in raising society’s physical activity: “It is in this spirit that today, The First International Students’ Sports Olympiad of the Consortium of the Five High Ranking Iranian Universities was inaugurated and hosted by the six universities”.
Dr. Kordi added: “This event aims to internationalize universities, preach goal-oriented sportsmanship, boost the mood of foreign students, share cultural experiences and encourage the internationalization of other universities. The cooperation of the best Iranian universities is the best way to expand international relations.”
According to him, there are around 3,000 foreign students from 50 countries in Iranian universities. So far, the Olympiad has contributed to friendly and mutual relations with other universities: “There is no doubt that these events will bring on the progress of universities in different areas”.
Sports are the Simplest Common Language between Different Cultures and Nationalities
Dr. Halabchi, the director of the Cultural Student Affairs clarified the policy behind the presence of foreign students in this event: “When there is question of International Universities, the authorities want internationalization in every aspect. This is while, in addition to educational and research aspects of international students, a greater plan for enacting cultural and social programs is anticipated.”
He claimed that sports are the simplest common language between different cultures and nationalities. He also explained the presence of Iranian competitors next to foreign students as an opportunity for establishing social relations for both: “The committee has tried to apply the same policy and programs to the foreign and Iranian athletes”. He said that they hope that in the following years, the Olympiad would take on a more national dimension to itself.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences leading the individual competitions
The preparations for this event had started almost a year prior to the inauguration. Dr. Pourgharib, the director of Physical Education said that almost 140 students from 15 countries and 3 continents will participate in First International Students’ Sports Olympiad of the Consortium of the Five High Ranking Iranian Universities. He added: “In these competitions, women will be competing in 3 individual sports (darts, chess and fitness) while men will participate in 5 individual sports (darts, chess, fitness, Tennis on the table and foosball). There will also be a team sport: futsal. The individual competitions took place on February 29th from 8:000 to 13:00 in Chamran, Fathi, Delkhah and Tavakoli sports complexes.”
According to him, in women’s competitions, Jahi Sang, Nazanin Karimahmad and Mansoureh Fazelian (from Tehran University of Medical Sciences) in fitness; Mahak Manzour, Razieh Bahsir and Kashmala Naghavi (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) in darts; and Fatemeh Azimi (San’ati Sharif Polytechnic University), Salsa Bilah and Fatima Mostafavi (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) in chess, attained the first to third places respectively.
The director of the university’s Physical Education declared TUMS leadership in men’s table tennis and said that Kabir Ouzigi Abdolahi and Seyed Mobasher Hossein from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Mojtaba Momeni from University of Tehran attained the first to third places.
He added achievements of Mohammad Mohammadhosseini, Mohsen Barbari and Mohammad Al Mamouri from University of Tehran and Amirkabir University in men’s chess and said “Mohammad Sani Shoaybou and Jamiva Foulabi from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Mojtaba Danesh from University of Tehran took the first to third places in fitness.”
Dr. Pourgharib added: “Davoud Shebeli from Amirkabir University, Javad Heydar Ahmed from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Mohammad Hasan Abbas from Amirkabir University won the first to third positions in table football.”
He pointed to 1st, 2nd, 3rd rank in 50M backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke swimmings by Macro Borta and Yamin Al Nader from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and added: “Vali Mohammad Vadid from Amirkabir University and Todse Belke from Tehran University of Medical Sciences took the 2nd and 3rd places in 50M backstroke.”
The director of the university’s Physical Education recognized 2nd and 3rd positions in 50M freestyle for Yamin Al Nader from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Mahdi Mojir from Amirkabir University and stated: “Marco Borta and Ebrahim Aligh from Tehran University of Medical Sciences managed to attain 2nd and 3rd ranks in 50M breaststroke.”
During the ceremony, a parade was conducted by the present teams in the First International Students’ Sports Olympiad of the Consortium of the Five High Ranking Iranian Universities.
A student from Tehran University of Mediccal Sciences performed Indian music along with Mehnava Band’s performance of Iranian traditional music.
Ehsan Mousavinejad, the Iranian Guinness record holder, performed eye-catching football arts besides some parkour movements for the crowd.
At the end, the plaques and statues were presented to university representatives by Dr. Kordi and Dr. Halabchi, deputies of International, and Student and Cultural Affairs of the university respectively.
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