The Tehran Marathon took place yesterday morning (Friday, September 27) at Velayat Park with the enthusiastic presence of sports and running enthusiasts. This sporting event, recognized as one of the most important annual events in athletics, was accompanied by significant controversies. The publication of images of some athletes who did not adhere to Islamic norms turned this issue into one of the main topics of discussion that day.
Director General of Sports and Youth: Legal Permission for Holding the Event Has Been Issued
Habib Sotoudeh-Najd, the Director General of Sports and Youth, referring to the controversies that arose, stated: "The necessary permission for holding this event was issued by the Security Council of Tehran Province, and there were no legal issues." He also noted that before the start of the competition, all athletes were required to sign a commitment letter to adhere to technical, ethical, and Islamic norms, and the responsibility for this aspect lay with the athletes themselves.
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Sotoudeh-Najd added: "Before the competition, a type of headband was provided to participants to help them adhere to norms in terms of appearance as well." This action was taken to prevent misconduct and maintain Islamic etiquette in the competition environment.
Dealing with Violating Athletes and Necessary Warnings
The Director General of Sports and Youth also mentioned: "About 95 percent of participants adhered to the norms, and there were no issues. However, in the most pessimistic scenario, 5 percent of individuals were acting differently, and they were given necessary warnings." He emphasized that executive and security personnel were present along the route and provided necessary warnings when needed, and even prevented the presence of some violators.
Sotoudeh-Najd further referred to the timing of this event and said: "The timing of this sporting event had been determined a month in advance, and there was a possibility of changing the schedule." He also mentioned the 'Sacrifice for Iran' exercise, which could have affected the timing of the marathon.
Athletes and enthusiasts participated in this competition with high enthusiasm and motivation, striving to compete in this important event. However, the controversies that arose indicate the need for more oversight regarding adherence to Islamic norms in such events to prevent future problems.
Ultimately, holding the Tehran Marathon can be seen as a suitable opportunity to promote the culture of sports and physical activity in society, provided that all aspects are properly observed.
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