Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, convened a high-level meeting with presidents of sports federations and the top-ranking officials of National Olympic Committee to formalize preparations for the 2026 Nagoya Asian and Para-Asian Games.
Iran
NOC; Tehran: Amidst a challenging national landscape, the Minister emphasized
that athletic success serves as a critical pillar for national morale, urging
federations to adopt a crisis-ready operational model. “Our nation requires
diligent resource management during these sensitive times,” Donyamali stated,
acknowledging the fiscal constraints while stressing that national team participation
in international events remain a non-negotiable priority. He called for a
diversified funding approach, urging federations to proactively leverage
private-sector sponsorships to complement limited public budgets.
A
core theme of the meeting was rejecting past achievements as a baseline for
future success. “We must not use the 13 gold medals from the Hangzhou Games as
our benchmark,” the Minister noted, adding: “If we work tirelessly, we can
significantly exceed current projections. Our goal is for the strength of
Iranian sports to stand as a testament to our national resolve.” Highlighting
the importance of strategic continuity, the Minister also emphasized the
necessity of maintaining consistent leadership within sports bodies and
prioritized the development of women’s sports. “Investing in female athletes
yields high dividends; our objective should be for our female champions to
secure 60% of our total medal count,” he asserted.
Finally,
the Minister mandated that national training camps must continue without
interruption, advising federations to utilize regions less affected by the
current regional tensions to ensure athletes remain in peak condition. “Despite
all limitations, we must mobilize our full capacity to ensure a powerful
Iranian presence in Nagoya,” he concluded.