Asian Games torch relay to start in Iran Nov. 7!

[MoJo23]

IRNA- The 15th Asian Games torch relay will start in Mashhad, the capital of northeastern Khorassan Razavi Province, Tuesday, symbolizing the upcoming sporting event in the Qatari capital Doha.

The relay is to begin at 10:00 am (local time) and 125 people, including veteran sportsmen, students, officials, and six Qatari nationals will carry the flame.

According to the schedule, the torch will fly to the 2006 cultural capital of the Islamic world, Isfahan in central Iran, and then to Tehran Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Nasrollah Sajjadi, the head of Iranian teams in Qatar, will be the first official who starts carrying the torch in the Tochal ski resort in northern Tehran and the next torchbearers will be the four-time world and twice Olympic +105kg weightlifting gold medalist Hossein Rezazadeh, legendary keeper Ahmad-Reza Abedzadeh, and former national and Persepolis skipper Mohammad Panj'ali.

The torch, which is wind-resistant at speeds of up to 60 kilometers an hour, symbolizes the desire to merge and light anew the spirit of competition and friendship throughout Asia, organizers said.

It has traveled the furthest in its history this year -- 50,000 kilometers and through 15 countries across the region.

After the Tehran relay, the flame will be flown to Salalah, Muscat, Sohar in Oman; Hatta, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Kuwait City, Manama (Bahrain) and back to Doha for the kickoff of the Games that will be held from December 1-15.

[MoJo23]

Torch carrying ceremony for 2006 Qatar Games reviewed in Isfahan

IRNA- Details of the torch carrying ceremony from the cultural capital of the Islamic World, Isfahan, to Doha, Qatar, for 2006 Qatar Asian Games were reviewed at a press conference here on Monday evening.

The Secretary of the Torch Carrying Headquarters, Morteza Lachiani said at the conference, held at A'ineh (Mirror) Hall of Isfahan's Abbasi Hotel, "Carrying this torch from Iran is a sign of the Iranian nation's strong friendship bonds with the entire Asian nations."
He added, "The Asian Games Torch would first be carried from Isfahan's Menar-Jonban monument in the presence of 119 champions, veteran sportsmen, war disabled, martyrs, and missed in action (MIO) victims' great families toward the city's Imam (Naqsh-e-Jahan) Square, through a 40 kilometer path.

Lachiani said that the 124 champions would carry the games torch, out of whom six are from th host country Qatar, and the rest are Iranian champions.

He added, "33 Isfahani champions that have been awarded medals for Iran at international games are among the carriers of the games' torch, four of whom are war disabled veterans."
The Secretary of the Asian Games Torch Carrying Headquarters in Isfahan added, "The torch carrying ceremony would begin at 10:30 am, on Wednesday morning in the presence of the Governor General of Isfahan Province, the city governor, the mayor of Isfahan, MPS, and the people."
He said that the torch would be carried at a rout that passes by the side of almost all monumental sites in Isfahan, including the city's beautiful bridges and its historical Charbaq Boulevard.

Lachiani said that the last champion that would carry the torch in Imam Square would be the world taekwondo champion Hadi Sa'ei, following which there would be an artistic cultural program performed jointly by Iranian and Qatari artists, leading to the end of the torch carrying ceremony in Isfahan.

During the conference Ms. Rosan Pilbin, one of the officials of the games torch carrying ceremonies said that Iran with three cities, along with Oman, has the greatest share in the ceremonies.

The games torch would initially begin its tour to Qatar from New Delhi, India, following which it would tour through 14 countries before arriving in Qatar on Saturday November 25th.

[MoJo23]

Hossein Rezazadeh with the torch!



Iran- The four-time world and twice Olympic +105 kg weightlifting gold medalist Hossein Rezazadeh carries the torch on the occasion of 15th Asian Games symbolizing the upcoming sport event in the Qatari capital of Doha.

The torch, which is wind-resistant at speeds of up to 60 kilometers an hour, symbolizes the desire to merge and light anew the spirit of competition and friendship throughout Asia.

After Tehran relay, the flame will be flown to Salalah, Muscat, Sohar in Oman; Hatta, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi in UAE, Kuwait City, Manama (Bahrain) and back to Doha for the kickoff of the Games (December 1-15).

[MoJo23]

Iran's Asian Games medalists to receive handsome sums

The official website of Iranian Games Organizing Committee Monday said that 440 million rials (some US$49,000) are awarded to three medal winners of each field of the 15th Asian Games in the Qatari capital Doha.

According to the report, the gold medalist will win a
25-million-rial (some US$27,700) purse, the silver winner a 12-million-rial (some US$ 13,300) award, and the bronze medalist a 7-million-rial (some US$ 7,700) prize.

The 2006 Games will be held from December 1-15.