Iranian delegation flag bearers for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games received the national flag at a ceremony held at the Imam Reza Shrine, where National Olympic Committee Secretary-General Dr. Mahdi Alinejad said Iranian athletes would compete with full commitment to raise the country’s flag.
Iran
NOC; Tehran: Organized by the National Olympic Committee, the ceremony was
attended by officials from the Ministry of Sport and Youth, the NOC, several
federation presidents, the families of the Minab martyrs, and the two flag
bearers, Zahra Kiani and Fazel Atrachali. Following recitations from the Holy
Quran, the national anthem performed by a group of young people and the special
salutation to Imam Reza, parents of two martyred student-athletes from the
Barani and Ahmadi Zadeh families addressed the gathering.
NOC Secretary-General,
Dr. Alinejad said the flag bearers had gathered at the holy site “to pledge,
alongside the Eighth Imam, the martyred leaders and the esteemed families of
the Minab martyrs, that the path of the martyrs will continue.” Referring to
the Asian Games delegation, he added: “I am certain that our athletes will step
into the arena with all their hearts to raise the sacred flag of our beloved
country.” He also stressed that “the National Olympic Committee considers
itself a servant of the people and has made every effort to ensure that the
delegation leaves for the Asian Games free of concern.” Minister of Sport and
Youth Dr. Donya Mali appreciated the NOC for staging the event and reaffirmed
the government’s and ministry’s support for sport, before Kiani and Atrachali
received the national flag and the flag of the Imam Reza Shrine and read the
athletes’ oath.