TEHRAN – Iran is making attempts to revive the Women's Islamic Games, were an international multi-sport event started in 1993, said Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Masoud Soltanifar here on Saturday.

Iran is seriously attempting to preserve and revive the rights of Muslim female athletes in international events such as Olympic Games, Asian games and other events observing the cultural and religious limits, he added.

Iran is the forerunner in the sports of women of Muslim countries, IRNA quoted Saltanifar as saying.

After Iran’s success in approving the presence of female basketball players with Islamic dress code in international events, Iran has provided the ground for other Muslim athletes to participate in triathlon events.

A triathlon is a multiple-stage competition involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance disciplines.

Iran has widespread relationship with countries and societies which are the members of world sports communities as well as organizations responsible for sports and youths, he added.

Soltanifar also noted that the proposal for membership of Iran among the five members of the council of ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was approved at the 4th Session of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYSM) held in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan on April 17-19, 2018.

The Women's Islamic Games were an international multi-sport event started in 1993. The event was organized by the Islamic Federation of Women's Sport (IFWS). Muslim women of all nationalities were allowed to take part in the Games.

The event has been held in 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2005 in Iran.

NM/MQ