Interview with Mehdi Rostampour about the past, present, and future of Iranian sports

Prince Reza Pahlavi spoke with Mehdi Rostampour about Iranian sports in the past, present, and future.

Last night, by publishing his conversations with Mehdi Rostampour about Iranian sports, Prince Pahlavi once again showed that despite the great pressure against him, he is still working for the future of Iran.

Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, continued his political efforts and meetings, after visiting the United States and meeting with representatives of the US Congress and Senate, and left for Germany on August 25. His destination was the city of Munich, where on August 25, the "High Conference on National Cooperation" was held with a large attendance of opposition forces to the Islamic Republic. Political observers described this gathering as an unprecedented event in the history of the Iranian opposition; an event that indicated an effort for convergence and coordination among the various political and civil forces of Iranians abroad.

The highlight of the conference was the continuous and active presence of His Majesty Reza Pahlavi. He was the only person who participated in all the speeches from the beginning to the end of the program, that is, from 9 am to 10 pm, without leaving the hall. This full-time presence demonstrated his commitment and seriousness towards the issue of national solidarity.

The next day, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of Shahenshah Aryamehr, other intensive programs were on the agenda. This program included meetings with the families of those killed in the freedom struggle, meetings with representatives of various parties, and discussions with athletes and civil activists. Such a concentration of activities reflects the coherent and consistent approach of the Iranian king in the fight against the Islamic Republic and efforts for a better future for the country.

Despite the media campaigns and virtual pressures against him, Prince Reza Pahlavi, at the appointed time, conducted his first detailed sports interview since 1977. This interview was with Mehdi Rostampour and was dedicated to the past, present, and future of Iranian sports after the collapse of the Islamic Republic. What makes this interview doubly important is the 46-year gap since his last sports interview.

This interview and his constant presence on programs are just part of the efforts and perseverance of the Iranian monarch over the past decades; a long journey that began since the fall of the monarchy in Iran and has continued to this day.

In the aforementioned interview, Prince Reza Pahlavi, in response to the question of "what role veteran athletes can play for the freedom of Iran," said: "Certainly, a national duty applies to every citizen. Regardless of what field or profession they are active in society, athletes must also find their share in a national project in some way. One of the things that can be thought about right now, and I mentioned this in a meeting I had with representatives of the sports spectrum, is what can best provide conditions for the Iranian sports community. Many of the measures considered in terms of foresight within the country are:

First of all, there is the discrimination that this system practices even in the world of sports. For example, some people are excluded from participating in some sports because they are of other religions, or in some cases, it is gender discrimination that prevents athletes from participating in competitions. These discriminations can be changed immediately so that they can be eliminated in the country of Iran.

We can have many projects and programs in the future for the entire world of sports in Iran, not only in the sense of those who are athletes, but also for training physical education instructors and sports education facilities that can be provided nationwide, which will be a very huge project.

All athletes can give their opinions and ideas on this. Maintaining the federation and issues like this are a discussion that should be included in the discourse. And since I myself was involved in sports, I believe that sports are a way to prevent people from turning to addiction and other issues. When the health of society increases through sports, treatment costs will also decrease, and all of these are interconnected.

"We can share this mentality with the participation of athletes, pay more attention to it, and make the necessary plans for the future."

He continued his speech by adding: "Many of the existing issues, such as corruption in federations, discrimination, and many other issues in which the system is involved, will disappear immediately. But a strategy, a strategy, and a grand plan are needed to ensure the sustainability of this program and its structure in the long term. The sports community in the country should be one of the major pillars of the country's progress, and the modernization of stadiums should also be in the works."

Prince Pahlavi also emphasized: "All these issues can be re-established among the people after the transition from the Islamic Republic. Many of the issues that existed at that time can be preserved and continued so that they can have a positive impact on the future of Iranian sports as soon as possible. Unfortunately, what has so far caused restrictions and even exclusion of athletes from participating in the Olympics is all due to the current political issues in Iran, which can all be resolved quickly. Therefore, this issue is a promise to athletes and the world of sports that all of this can be done and resolved, and we must be able to provide those conditions in the transition from this system so that all issues can be seriously addressed and all plans can be established."