From March 30 to April 14, 2019, a study trip and meetings were planned in Iran (see map), in collaboration with the I.R.IRAN RURAL SPORT & LOCAL GAMES FEDERATION, and his president Gholamréza Jafari (also Vice-President of ITSGA).

Numerous meetings have been organized, either with regional leaders of traditional sports or with the administration of sport, or with regional governors and finally senior officials of the Ministry of Sport and Youth. The goal was to exchange information, material, ideas around development projects, festivals or international congresses.

13/04. Meeting with Mr. Abdulhamid Ahmadi, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, in charge of Culture.

The following file presents a summary of the festivals that were on the program of the study trip. IRAN – Study trip 2019 01

There are many traditional wrestling styles in Iran, all very popular. Here a view of the great Choukhe wrestling tournament at Esfarayen, with about 20,000 spectators!

TV links: https://tamasha.com/v/ZVVjO/%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%DB%8C-%DA%86%D9%88%D8%AE%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85

Presentation of the AEJeST flag to President Jafari.

The European Association was represented by Guy Jaouen, also president of ITSGA, the international TSG coordination. He was accompanied by Petar Petrov, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnography in Sofia and a specialist in wrestling sports. President Jafari also presented a copy of the first volume (700 pages) of the encyclopedia of traditional sports and games which is currently in construction. Two other volumes are in preparation, representing nearly 1100 different practices.

Following this two-week exchange, collaborative actions will be proposed to AEJeST, notably through international festivals and congresses.