TEHRAN - President of the Islamic Republic of Iran met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Stressing the necessity of developing and strengthening relations between the National Olympic Committee of Iran and the International Olympic Committee, the president said: "Sport contributes to the health of body and soul and causes vitality and mobility in societies, and we must work to expand it in all aspects”.

“Fortunately in recent years, Iran's sport has grown widely at public and championship levels”, President.ir reported.  

Pointing out that the National Olympic Committee of Iran has good relations with the International Olympic Committee, the president said: “Despite the independence of federations from the government, we always support sports and athletes in our country”.

The president stressed creating equal opportunities for men and women in various fields of social activities, including sports, and said: "Fortunately, in the last five years, Iranian women have had a strong presence in various fields and have had an important role in politics and management positions".

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach also offered condolences over the terrorist attack in Ahwaz and said: “Iran's sport has made tremendous progress in recent years and has created great opportunities for Iranian women to appear in various sports fields”.

Referring to the positive and constructive steps taken by the Iranian National Olympic Committee to promote the level of sport in the country, he called for the development of relations and cooperation of the committee with the International Olympic Committee.