The National Olympic Committee’s Psychology Center has conducted an educational webinar on managing sports-related anxiety for athletes and coaches preparing for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Iran
NOC; Tehran: The Sports Psychology
Center held its eighth educational webinar, titled “Anxiety in Sports,” as part
of its ongoing support for national teams. This initiative aims to preserve the
mental well-being and ensure optimal performance for the delegation heading to
the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
During
the session, instructor Narges Ahadi defined sports anxiety as the distressing
psychological state that athletes may experience during competition or
training. She categorized this phenomenon into two distinct types: cognitive
anxiety, which involves negative thoughts, performance concerns, and lapses in
concentration; and somatic anxiety, characterized by physical manifestations
such as elevated heart rate, perspiration, and muscle tremors. She highlighted
effective management strategies, including breathing exercises, mental imagery,
and psychological preparation techniques. By mastering these methods, athletes
can mitigate performance degradation and maintain their arousal levels within
an optimal range for success.