 |
| Hamid
Sadjadi is quite experienced in 3000 m category. But no one can underestimate the African
runners. |
In 1934, with the
efforts of Ahmad Izadpanah and through organizing some track and field events,
organizations were set up for running. Therefore, Izadpanah can be named as “the
father of running” in Iran. In 1936, Iranian Athletics Federation was set up. In the
same year, a group of Iranian college students were gathered from France and Germany to
attend a track and field event in Berlin where different nations demonstrated their
capabilities. Also in the same year, Iran became a member of International Amateur
Athletics Federation. The first term of Iranian Athletics Federation was headed by
Mohammad Zolfaghari in 1946. The current head of the federation is Ali Kaffashian.
Iranians held the first round of track and field competitions in 1939 in 10 events: 100,
200, 400, 800, 5000 meter, 4x100 meter relay, high jumping, long jumping, triple jumping,
shot-put, javelin throwing.
Iranian sports community and officials keep stressing on the further promotion of
athletics as the “mother of sports”. But in Sydney 2000, Mehdi Jelodarzadeh will
most probably be the only athlete to present Iran in track and field. The young
Jelodarzadeh is expected to beat his former record of 1:47:84 in 800 m run. |
