Tehran: Women Islamic Games Inaugurated In Tehran

WOMEN ISLAMIC GAMES INAUGURATED IN TEHRAN

IranMania, Iran
Sept 26 2005

LONDON, September 26 (IranMania) – The Fourth Women Islamic Games
was inaugurated in an official ceremony at the Enqelab Sports Arena,
according to Iran Daily.

After the inauguration ceremony, the message of the International
Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge was read to the participants.

In his message Rogge wished the organizers of the international
event as well as women athletes every success in their efforts at
the Fourth Women Islamic Games. He also congratulated the organizers
for organizing the event and inviting women from across the globe to
compete in the ongoing games, IRNA reported.

Women are currently competing in 18 different sports fields and the
main aim of the event is to give them the opportunity to be part of
the Olympic and sporting events at international levels.

After Rogge?s message, Faezeh Hashemi, head of the Women Islamic
Sports Federation, briefed the participants about the past activities
of the international event and similarly wished every success for
the participants.

She said the Islamic world is currently going through a difficult
period and is under constant threat from all directions. For this
reason, peace and stability can not be achieved without unity and
elimination of all types of discriminations, she noted.

She argued that international sporting events could pave the way for
positive interactions among the countries and bolster joint values
in scientific, cultural, social, political and economic domains. ?It
could also create balance and widespread peace across the globe.?

She reiterated that the chief aim of the Islamic Republic in organizing
the event is to continue its friendship with other nations, and
promote peace and friendship across the globe.

At Saturday?s games, women athletes competed with each other in a
number of different fields.

Iran?s futsal team managed to beat Turkmenistan 32-1 while England
lost the game to Armenia 3-38. In handball, Iran similarly thrashed
Qatar 39-22 as Jordan did the same to Tajikistan with 34-15.

Iran, however, did not have a good luck in badminton and lost the
game to Indonesia 2-3. Syria, on the contrary, had a lucky day after
it beat Iraq 5-0.

Other winners in badminton were Pakistan and Malaysia which beat
Azerbaijan and Armenia 5-0 respectively.

The Fourth Women Islamic Games will run through September 28.