Currently, the Olympic Committees of the two countries are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation. This document allows joint activities in education, organization of training and other activities in various sports, visa and scientific and methodological support. The NOCs actively take advantage of opportunities in the exchange of experience that promotes initiatives in the international sports field.
Rodion Plitukhin noted that Russia and Iran already have close contacts, including at the level of sports federations. In 2022, for example, Iranian athletes participated in nine international competitions organized with the support of the ROC by all-Russian sports federations in cycling, judo, karate, taekwondo, skateboarding, climbing, and snowboarding.
According to the Secretary General of the ROC, the development of partnership relations through the National Olympic Committees would be a logical step to strengthen sports cooperation between the two countries.
Rodion Plitukhin invited his colleague to visit the II International Winter Sports Games “Children of Asia”, which will be held in February in Kuzbass, and recalled that an invitation to participate in the competitions was also sent to young athletes from Iran to the Ministry of Sports of the Islamic Republic.
– Since 1996, the “Children of Asia Games” have been the largest complex competitions for children in the countries and regions of the Eurasian continent, held under the auspices of the IOC and UNESCO. They are important to promote and spread the true Olympic values, not in words, but in deeds that contribute to mutual understanding between countries and peoples through sports and friendship, – said ROC Secretary General.
Rodion Plitukhin and Manaf Hashemi also discussed current issues in the world sports agenda, emphasizing that in the current turbulent times, the unifying and constructive role of sport is more important than ever, and that any politicization runs counter to the Olympic Charter and causes division in the Olympic and international sports movement.
According to Manaf Hashemi, Iran is closely monitoring the situation with the unlawful restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes. The Secretary General of the Islamic Republic’s NOC expressed the hope that unjust restrictions would soon come to an end.
– We will be glad to see Russian athletes at international competitions again, including those held in Asia, – Manaf Hashemi emphasized.
