Tehran, Iran- Iran National Paralympic Committee
(NPC) President Dr. Ghafoor Karegari outlined key updates ahead of the Dubai
2025 Asian Youth Para Games during a press conference held in Tehran, Monday on September 2nd.
Dr. Karegari stressed the vital role of the media in the progress of Paralympic sport, highlighting how journalists and photographers help to showcase the achievements of athletes.
“Media plays a central role in the advancement of sport, especially within the Paralympic Movement. The success of our athletes at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was reflected more widely thanks to your efforts,” he said.
He praised the commitment of athletes, officials, and the media, noting that in recent years, Iranian Paralympians have consistently delivered outstanding performances.
“Iran finished second in the medal standings, for the first time, at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games,” he added. “Figures such as Hadi Rezaei, Sareh Javanmardi, and Zahra Nemati have brought great pride to the nation. Rezaei was inducted into the World Volleyball Hall of Fame, Javanmardi has earned the title of ‘Queen of Pistol,’ and Nemati was recently honored with the APC Exemplary Asian Official Award, reflecting her four years of service on the IPC Athletes’ Commission.”
The NPC President also underlined Iran’s growing influence in international sports governance.
“In the past two years, Iran has secured seats in several international bodies. Moreover, in 2025, NPC Iran received the IPC International Women’s Day Recognition Award, with the IPC also naming Iran the leading nation in the development of women’s Paralympic sport — a major milestone in gender equality. NPC Iran’s Academy has also been designated as the APC Official Centre of Excellence and recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Asian Paralympic Committee in this regard,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Dr. Karegari outlined two major upcoming priorities: the Asian Youth Para Games in December and Iran’s National Paralympic Week in October.
“The Asian Youth Para Games are important to us for two reasons: they inspire young athletes with disabilities to engage in sport, and they bring pride to the nation. We have already appointed heads of delegations for each sport, and I personally visit training camps to ensure challenges are addressed. Our goal is to prepare athletes for future events, particularly the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Dubai 2025 will serve as a crucial stepping stone.”
He emphasized two key objectives for the Dubai 2025 Games:
“First, we aim for maximum participation. We have requested the participation of 205 athletes from the Organizing Committee. Second, we are focusing on education and development — nurturing young athletes and coaches to strengthen our national teams.”
Turning to domestic initiatives, Dr. Karegari outlined the plans for National Paralympic Week 2025.
“Last year we introduced a new approach. Instead of a single large event, we organized a festival involving 2,000 athletes with a focus on talent identification. This year, we will continue with a similar approach, but with broader engagement. The program will include 1,750 special education schools for students with disabilities and 750 care centers, and for the first time, with support from the Iranian community in the UAE, parallel events will also be held there,” he said.
He added that the day will once again be celebrated as the “Festival of Great Determinations,” with specific themes assigned to each day of Paralympic Week.
“I extend my gratitude to the Minister of Sport and his deputies for their support. With such cooperation and synergy, I am confident we will see the further growth of Paralympic sport in Iran and greater engagement of people with disabilities across the country,” President Karegari concluded.
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