I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 14, 2020 SPORTS 11 2020 Paralympics will FFIRI General Assembly to be held on March 15 SPORTS TEHRAN — Football Federation of the be biggest yet: Craig Spence desk Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) General By Masoud Hossein Assembly will be held on March 15. The federation is currently heading by Heydar Baharvand. TEHRAN — Craig Spence, the Inter- Baharvand was appointed as the federation’s acting pres- national Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) ident on Dec. 30 following Mehdi Taj’s resignation due to chief marketing and communications of- his heart problems. ficer, says that Tokyo 2020 Paralympic The federation had already announced that the General Games will be spectacular and possibly Assembly will be held on May 7. the biggest yet. Tokyo 2020 could also be the first Games to sell-out before the Opening Ceremony with demand for tickets like Iran rout New Zealand at nothing the IPC organizers have expe- rienced before. Asian Handball C’ship In an exclusive interview with Tehran Times, the IPC top official said that they SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran eased past New Zealand have undertaken a lot of work in recent desk53-21 in their 2020 Asian Men’s Handball years to raise the Games. Championship opener on Friday. Tehran Times: The Paralympic move- ment has improved dramatically over the past years, ensuring equal rights for those with disabilities. The Paralympics has grown from 400 athletes from 23 coun- tries in 1960 to 4,328 athletes from 159 nations in 2016. What is your predication for Tokyo 2020 and the upcoming Games as well? Craig Spence: I think the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be spectacular and possibly our biggest yet. The qualification process in all 22 sports is ongoing but we are aiming for 4,350 athletes from around 165 countries. In addition to this we are expecting our biggest ever global TV audi- ence with a cumulative 4.25 billion people Team Melli will play Bahrain in Group A at the Shaikh Saad set to watch the Games in more than 160 objective for the Games is to ensure it the balance between two? Not afraid of and their preparations are not going Al-Abdullah Sports Hall Complex in Kuwait City on Saturday. countries. Tokyo 2020 could also be the showcases the outstanding capabilities turning into a money-making industry well. Is there any way to help the Irani- Group B consists of Qatar, Japan and China. first Games to sell-out before the Opening of persons with disabilities, stimulates and losing its primary goal? an committee to facilitate the process for South Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia are in Group C and Ceremony with demand for tickets like the creation of truly inclusive societies We are where we are today because of the the preparation as the country is going to Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE and Hong Kong are drawn in Group D. nothing we have experienced before. with accessible environments, promotes work of the amazing volunteers and adminis- reduce its athletes in the Games? The 2020 Asian Men’s Handball Championship will be the Historically, persons with disabilities safe and fair participation and inspires trators who helped establish the Paralympic The IPC is always keen to separate out 19th edition of the championship held under the aegis of Asian have been on the edges of Japanese society physical activity by all. Movement both nationally and internationally sport and politics and we hope NPC Iran Handball Federation at Kuwait City, Kuwait from Jan. 16 to 27. due to a feeling of over-protection. Hap- We want to maximize the Games experi- and this will always be the case. can best prepare its athletes for the Tokyo It acts as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2021 World pily, the Paralympics Games are changing ence for all stakeholders, starting with the The investment we have seen in re- 2020 Paralympic Games regardless of the Men’s Handball Championship in Egypt. this, and growing awareness is shifting athletes. Competing at the Games should cent years from commercial partners circumstance it currently faces. attitudes in the right direction. be the pinnacle of their careers. We want and broadcasters is hugely positive as The strongest ever Paralympian, Siamand These attitudes will change much more to broaden the number of countries that it has benefited the Movement at all Rahman, could be a role model for those once the Games begin and I know the perfor- take part and create opportunities for ath- levels and sped up our growth process. with disabilities in the world. He is like Nebojsa Milicic Lekic mances of Para athletes will open peoples’ letes with varying types of impairment. There is no doubt that there is a di- Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt in Olym- eyes and minds. Change starts with sport By further increasing the global reach rect correlation between the investment pic Games. Have you any further plans to appointed Esteghlal coach and thanks to the Paralympics Japanese of the Games, we will amplify the impact, coming in and the rapid improvement in introduce new Para athletes like Siamand people will start to understand that per- legacy and value of the Games. We want athletic performances and greater reach and Morteza Mehrzad in sitting volleyball? IRNA — Nebojsa Milicic Lekic has been confirmed as assistant sons with disabilities can do far more than to showcase the outstanding impact of the Paralympic Movement. Pretty much every athlete who competes coach in Iranian football team Esteghlal. they thought possible, not only can they the Games have on the host country Our sponsors help us communicate in Para sport is a role model and the IPC The 60-year-old coach started his coaching career at Bulgar- compete, they can work, have fun, travel and around the world in transforming the Paralympic Movement to far greater has undertaken a lot of work in recent ian team Vereya Stara Zagora and has worked as coach at Real and lead full lives just like anyone else. cities, lives and societies. audiences, reaching billions around the years to raise the global profile of several Madrid U-19, RM Castilla and Kairat Almaty. The Paralympics have come a long way A large number of people, behind the world. And when our message is that leading international athletes, including Lekic has also worked as head coach of Serbian second from its humble beginnings as a rehabili- scenes, have helped the Para sports to Change Starts with Sport and our desire is the world’s strongest Paralympian Sia- tier FK Zemun. tation program for the war veterans. Now, improve in the years, given the fact that to make for a more inclusive world through mand Rahman and archer Zarah Nemati. The Serbian-Spanish coach will assist Farhad Majidi in 60 years after the inauguration, what is it’s something like philanthropic mission. Para sport, this can only be a good thing. We are currently recruiting 17 global the Iranian giant. the long-term goals for the Games? But in the recent years, NPC have penned Iran is a heavyweight in the Para sports ambassadors to support our promotion Esteghlal are going to win Iran Professional League after You are right. The Paralympic Movement the big deals with Agitos, Toyota, Sam- as the country has the most decorated of the United Nations Sustainable Devel- seven years. and Paralympic Games have come a long sung, BP and Visa and I think it is both Paralympic sports team, sitting volley- opment Goals and have many exciting way since the 1960 Games in Rome, Italy. good and bad. As a person who works as ball. The Iranian Paralympians are under plans to further promote athletes ahead As part of our strategic plan, our IPC marketing manager, how do you keep extreme pressure for the U.S. sanctions of the Tokyo 2020. Iranian federation calls on AFC to dismiss untrue claims Gabriel Calderon: I will always speak wonders about Iran about Iran’s security SPORTS TEHRAN — Ex-Persepolis coach Ga- Calderon arrived at Persepolis – the reigning Persian deskbriel Calderon has spoken about his Gulf Pro League and Iranian Hazfi Cup titleholders- last time at the Iranian club and insisted that the interna- July as a replacement for Croatian Branko Ivancovic. MNA — A spokesman with the Islamic Republic of Iran tional political conflicts had not affected his life in Iran Despite some negative reaction from part of the fan Football Federation noted that Iran is fully ready to host although he admitted there were problems regarding for his style of play, Calderon guided Persepolis to the international teams. financial issues between him and the club. top of the Iran Professional League (IPL) in the first half Iran is fully ready to host various teams as it has been repeat- The Argentine, who left Persepolis following just half a of 2019-20 season. edly proved during the past several years, Amirmahdi Alavi said season, opened up to Spanish newspaper AS on his short On 12 January 2020, Calderon resigned from his on Friday, pointing to the successful holding of the 2018 AFC experience in the Iranian club. position as Persepolis coach due to financial troubles Champions League final at Azadi Stadium as a prominent example. “Persepolis are one the biggest teams in Iran and Asia and disagreement with the club managers. The remarks come as a Saudi Arabian TV host has cited in- but the problem was that I didn’t get paid alongside my The former Persepolis boss, though, insisted that formed AFC officials as saying that Iran would not host any team two Spanish assistants for months,” said Calderon.