At the 55th Executive Board meeting of the National Olympic Committee of Iran, Dr. Mahin Farhadizad, Vice President of the NOC, was officially appointed as the Chef de Mission of Iran’s delegation to the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh.
Iran NOC; Tehran: Secretary-General
Dr. Mahdi Alinejad explained at the conclusion of the meeting, in line with the
NOC’s statutes, the Chef de Mission for major events must be selected at least
18 months prior to competition. Accordingly, Dr. Farhadizad was designated to
lead Iranian delegation to the Games, scheduled for December 2026 in Riyadh.
Dr. Alinejad emphasized the historic nature of the decision, noting that this
marks the first time a woman has been appointed as Chef de Mission for Iran at
an international sporting event. He highlighted that the move reflects the NOC’s
commitment to gender equality, pointing out that the number of female Chef de
Mission has already been increased and that the appointment continues that
policy direction.