An Iranian girls soccer team has reason to celebrate after the sport's world regulatory body amended its earlier ban on Islamic headscarves, which would have prevented them from competing in the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this summer. The decision by the International Federation of Football Assn., known as FIFA, has inspired Iran's team, the deputy head of the country's football federation, Farideh Shojaei, told the Associated Press. "They are determined to practice more and more." The new compromise ruling says that, although the girls cannot play wearing the headscarf, or hijab, they will be allowed to wear "a cap that covers their heads to the hairline but does not extend below the ears to cover the neck," according to a statement issued by FIFA. The initial decision to ban all head coverings was based on a 2007 ruling that the hijab violated the federation's governing manual, which states that a player's "basic compulsory equipment" must not have any "political, religious or personal statements." Following word in early April that the girls would not be allowed to compete in August in the Youth Olympics if they wore headscarves, the head of Iran's football federation, Ali Kaffashian, flew to FIFA headquarters in Switzerland to hammer out a compromise. “We sent FIFA a sample of our new Islamic dress, and fortunately they accepted it," Abbas Torabian, the director of the International Relations Committee of the Iran Football Federation, told the Tehran Times. "They announced that there was no objection if the players covered their hair with hats.” The new agreement, announced Monday, appeared to appease Iranian authorities, who cast the new decision as a victory for Muslim athletes. The Youth Olympics is scheduled to take place in Singapore from Aug. 14 to 26 and include more than 3,000 young athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 from around the world. -- Meris Lutz in Beirut Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/05/iran-girls-soccer-team-to-trade-hijabs-for-hats-for-youth-olympics-.html
IRAN: Girls soccer team must trade hijabs for hats to compete in Youth Olympics
on Saturday, November 6, 2010Woman and girls, let’s move: International Conference
on Friday, October 1, 201027- 28 November , 2010
The Sport Organization of the Municipality of Tehran invites all members of the sport community to participate in an international conference which is conducted as a joint venture of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport of Girls and Women (IAPESGW) and the city of Tehran. The conference aims at an exchange of knowledge and an increase of co-operation in the area of sport sciences and physical education.
About the conference: There is abundant evidence, that sport and physical exercises have a positive impact on health, well being and social relations. However, it is very difficult to motivate people to participate in recreational activities, in particular in large cities, where the environment and/or the lack of facilities do not encourage sports and fitness activities. Whereas boys and young men can find opportunities to play football or other sports, the majority of women and girls do not participate in physical exercises and sports.
The aim of the conference is to share experiences, information and scientific knowledge about the “movement culture” of girls and women: Their opinions and attitudes towards sport (for all), their motivations and barriers, their experiences and practices will be explored. Important topics of the conference are also the reasons for sport participation and inactivity as well as the strategies and measures to encourage an active life style among the population in large cities. Here physical education plays a large role. Therefore the quality of PE, in particular for girls, will be a focus on this event.
One day before the conference, an IAPESGW workshop with the same topic will take place where IAPESGW members and Iranian experts exchange knowledge and expertise.
The result of this workshop will be presented at the conference.
Key notes: IAPESGW is supporting developments in Iran and the event that is inviting the following guest contributors (see website under New Executive Board for details www.iapesgw.org
Professor Gertrud Pfister - Committee of consultants (Denmark)
Professor Rosa Lopez de D'Amico - Vice president (Venezuela)
Professor Maryam Koushkie Jahromi - Executive Board (Iran)
Reports about the results of the Workshop “Woman and girls , let’s move”, organised by IAPESGW and the Municipality of Tehran
Topics – as suggestions:
· Sport Activities – opportunities and challenges for women and men
· Sport (for all) in large cities – facilities and programs
· Cities and their spaces for physical activities
· How to activate the population and how to organise sport for all in cities
· International Cooperation in the Field of Physical Education and Sport Sciences
· Quality in School Sport
· PE and Sport Sciences: A Potential for Co-operation
· Sport Activities and Cultural Diversity
· New Trends in Sport Sciences
· Open papers
Please feel free to send in abstracts on other topics, we offer an open paper section.
Deadline dates
Scholars and experts are invited to participate in the conference and in the discussion.
Those who would like to give a paper have to send an abstract
Deadline for submission of abstract: 30th October 2010
Notification of acceptance: November 5th
Deadline for registration and hotel booking: November 12th
Deadline for submitting the visa: November 18th
Arrival and registration: November 26th
Workshop Conference days – 27th , 28th November
Departure 29th - 30th November
Abstracts may not exceed 3000 characters (including spaces, title, authors and institutions).
Submit by email to Iman Mohktari - cityandsport@yahoo.com
Registration
There will be no conference fee, but registration is necessary. Deadline for registration is November
Practical Information
Conference Fee
There is no registration fee .
The participants have to pay for their accommodation and dinner.
Lunches, tea and coffee breaks during the conference are free .
Conference hotel
Olympic Hotel,
You can book your room via the website of the hotel (alternative booking site)
Flights
There are direct flights to Tehran (IKA) from any airport around the world.
Weather
October is autumn in
More information on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran and http://en.tehran.ir/
Languages
The languages used in papers, discussions and presentations are English and Farsi.
Currency: Iranian Rial IRR 10005= US$ 1
There is limited international credit card service, please bring money ( US $ or Euro ) in cash .
Visa Requirements
The Conference organizers invite established scholars, researchers, practitioners and students from all countries. Delegates from some countries might require visas to enter
Others may get visas at the airport, but they have to send copies of their passports till November 18th
Dress code
Please respect the Islamic dress code in
Participating and Supporting Organizations:
- Sport Organization , Municipality Of
- International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW)
v Organizing Committee
v Dr. I. Mokhtari
v Dr. V. Mousavi
v Mrs. M. Karimi
v Scientific Committee
v (alphabetically arranged)
v Dr. Iman Mokhtari Iran
v Prof. Gertrud Pfister Denmark
v
v Dr. Maryam Koushki Iran
v Prof. Rosa Lopez de D’Amico Venezuela
v Dr. V. Mousavi Iran
Mohammed Hajaghamir : Manager , Sport Organization (Iran)
Mitra Karima Dastjerdi :Deputy , Sport Organization (Iran)
For additional information
Please contact: Iman Mohktari
email : cityandsport@yahoo.com
Event information September 2010
More Pictures of Muslim Sportswomen From Youth Olympics
on Saturday, August 14, 2010
Eda Karatas of Turkey reacts during the Youth Olympics Games Girls' Preliminaries Group A soccer match between Turkey and Iran on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)The Islamic Federation of Women Sport (IFWS) Is Shut Down Due to Budget Cuts
on Friday, August 13, 2010Iran Women's Soccer Team Sidelined for Islamic Dress
on Sunday, July 18, 2010By LARA SETRAKIAN
Iran's women's soccer team may be sitting out the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore next month because of a dispute over their Islamic uniforms. The young athletes, all under 15, are at the center of a struggle over how to follow Iran's dress code and still compete in the international arena.
Last week the government unveiled the team's new outfits, a modest ensemble of pants, long sleeves, and high knee socks, with a cap that covers their hair. The outfits are designed in red, white and green to match the Iranian flag.
The top female official of Iran's physical education department was apparently offended by the uniforms, saying they were "inappropriate" and that the team would not compete in them. The uniforms had been a compromise; in 2007 FIFA, the organizing body of world soccer, had banned the old uniform because it included the hijab, or Islamic head scarf. The hejab violated FIFA safety regulations and a rule barring religious or political symbols on the field, Reuters reports.
Muslim women game for rugby
on Sunday, July 11, 2010NEW Zealand's traditional game has a fledgling following in a very unlikely place. Following male-dominated Iran's relaxation of social rules in the 1990s, women began playing rugby union. Auckland-based, Iranian-born, film-maker Faramarz Beheshti, 51, was so fascinated he made a documentary about it. Salam Rugby will feature at the 2010 New Zealand International Film Festival, which screens until July 25 in Auckland. "I went to Iran in 2006 to work on another film project that didn't end up happening and I saw by chance a picture of these girls playing rugby," Beheshti told Sunday News. "I found it kind of charming as an idea so decided to work on it." Beheshti said the code became so popular that representatives from around Iran gathered for training. But soon after the birth of the new women's sport, legislation was introduced limiting the amount of contact men could have with women. That made it difficult for a male coach to take part in training. The film, Salam Rugby, follows the would-be players as they challenge the law so they can compete. "Sport is one of the few avenues for women in small towns to get out of the house," Beheshti said. "But the available rugby trainers were all men. The past four or five years have severely restricted the development of the women's game. "The sport has potential in Iran for men, but with women there is a dire need for female coaches." Beheshti is married to a Kiwi and has lived in New Zealand with their children since 2005, where he gained a passion for the game. "Growing up in Italy it was all about football." Beheshti was born in Iran and emigrated to Italy when he was four so had little experience of his birthplace before he made Salam Rugby. "It gave me the opportunity to meet these wonderful people in this wonderful country. I had a desire to visit Iran properly but I now feel so blessed I have the chance to experience this," he said. And he loves his new homeland. "I love Auckland, I've found my spiritual city. It's beautiful." Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/news/3906876/Muslim-women-game-for-rugby
By FINBARR BUNTING
Photos: Women Rowing Team Practicing in Zayandeh Rud, Isfahan
on Sunday, June 20, 2010
Following photos by Hossein Baharloo show the women rowing team practicing on the beautiful Zayandeh Rud river in the historic city of Isfahan in the shadows of the ancient Sio-seh-pol bridge.
Zayandeh Rud (life giver river) is the largest river on the central plateau of Iran, Isfahan Province. The Zayandeh starts in the Zagros Mountains and flows 400 kilometres (200 mi) eastward before ending in the Gavkhouni swamp, a seasonal salt lake, southeast of Esfahan city. The Zayandeh Rud is spanned by many historical Safavid era bridges, and flows through many parks. Zayandeh Rud normally has significant flow all year long, unlike many of Iran's rivers which are seasonal. But this year the severe draught caused the river to completely dry up (see report). The water started flowing into the river recently bringing the life back to it!
Source: http://www.payvand.com/news/09/nov/1133.htmlIt's a ‘foul' by FIFA
on Friday, June 18, 2010Neena Bhandari As the winter sun descends, young girls warm up for football training in their shorts and shirts at the Lakemba Sport and Recreation Club (LSRC) in Sydney, Australia. Some are also wearing a hijab. Although a common sight in multicultural Australia, the hijab has come under the spotlight as soccer's world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), had banned it from competition in April this year. FIFA's rules state that players may not wear jewellery or dangerous headgear such as hair clips, and that “basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements”. In a flux over ban The world of women's football has been in a flux ever since the ban came into force. When the new rule forced Iran's girls' soccer squad to opt out of the first summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this year, there were widespread protests. The issue was resolved recently after FIFA relented and permitted the girls to wear hats while on the field . While it's a small victory for the Iranian girls, many Muslim players in Australia, such as Mecca Laalaa, 23, have expressed their deep disappointment at players being forced to choose between their love for the game and their faith. “I am disappointed with FIFA's illogical ban on the hijab. It is arrogant and discriminatory. We have hijabs that accommodate FIFA rules. They are made of cotton and don't require safety pins. It is like wearing a hood and one can choose from a range of colours,” says Mecca, who plays for the LSRC. One of the goals mentioned on FIFA's Web site with regard to the women's game is “to increase the proportion of women and girls playing football at the grassroots, in schools and at amateur and professional levels”. Hiba Ayache, 24, has been playing soccer for the last 13 years and works as the Female Sports Recreation Coordinator at the LSRC. She says, “My parents allowed me to play soccer as it is a non-contact sport. I started wearing the hijab two years ago and it seems to fit into our multicultural society just fine. The headscarf is a religious requirement. It is something I wear with a lot of pride and respect. FIFA's hijab ban is a slap in the face.” But Hiba, who has never stopped getting a thrill out of kicking a football, feels that at the end of the day, it is FIFA's loss. “They will see a huge drop in the number of women playing the sport. Not just those who wear the hijab but women from other communities as well, as an expression of solidarity with us,” she says. Women's football — long strides Adds Mecca, who loves the team spirit and strong bonds of friendship she has formed through the sport, “We wear hijab because we want to, and not to make a religious, cultural or political statement. 0I want to dispel this perception that Muslim women who wear the hijab belong at home and are oppressed. While playing football at school, my headscarf wasn't an issue, but playing the sport at the competition level is not easy. There are instances when I feel out of place, but that isn't because I don't ‘assimilate', it's because of certain people's attitudes.” Despite being a fairly new sport in the country, as compared with, say, cricket, women's football has taken long strides, with participation at every level increasing faster than in any other sport for women. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities Report, April 2009, there were 82,700 girls between the ages of five and 14 playing outdoor football; and, according to ABS 2005-06 data, there were 1,08,100 girls of 15 years and above playing the sport. For Sarah El-Adib, 20, football has been a passion since she was in the fourth grade . She says, “I love the sport because it accommodates wearing a hijab. As I got older, my parents became increasingly concerned about the physical nature of the game and would worry about me getting hurt, but they have always been encouraging and supportive.” This, of course, is all set to change now. While football as a sport has managed to fit in with the needs of many Muslim women, this ban has come as a big blow. “I am allowed to walk in public with the hijab, attend university with it on, so why shouldn't I be allowed to play football? Football has always been considered an ‘international sport' so how can FIFA just exclude a large part of the world population? Sport is supposed to break down racial and religious barriers, not enforce them!” says Sarah. No issues, says FFA The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) has formed a small internal working group to examine the issue. According to a spokesman, “Our stance is that it is business as usual and there has been no changes to our domestic competitions, meaning women are free to wear hijab if they wish. We have had no reports of any issues in Australia around the wearing of hijab.” Lebanese-born Dr Jamal Rifi, President of LSRC, whose three daughters play football, is pleased with this support from the FFA. He says, “They have been encouraging our girls to continue playing soccer despite the FIFA ban. We know this ban is not in the best interest of the players or the sport code itself. Hijab is not a hazard on the field for players. We had five ‘girls only' teams in our club last year and this was a direct result of opening the sport to players from all religions, races and cultures.” In Australia, essentially a sports-loving nation, parents take keen interest in their children's sporting activities, escorting them to and from training and matches after school and at weekends. And as the countdown begins for FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 in Germany, Sam Kerr, 16 — one of the youngest players to join the national Australian women's football team, also called the Matildas — says she is “very excited, but nervous too.” Making it to the national team requires time, effort and years of training, along with learning to cope with the pressure of competition. Thea Slayter, 27, centre back or central defender in the Matildas, has been playing football since she was five. “Representing Australia has always been my goal and my parents supported me in achieving it. Matildas were my role models and joining the team has been a dream come true,” she says. While football fever is high among the girls here, several Muslim players are left with a bittersweet feeling. Many like Sarah feel that they have something to prove to the world when they are on the field. She wants to give her best and prove that she is a good player, irrespective of what she wears — in this case, the hijab. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2010/06/18/stories/2010061850140400.htm
Iranian girls set for youth games after ban
on Monday, June 14, 2010TEHRAN - Iranian female footballers will take part in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this August after world football authorities lifted a ban on the wearing of the Islamic head veil, an Iranian official said on Tuesday. "I think this is one of the big jobs done by the football federation," the chairman of the Iranian football federation Ali Kafashian told the ISNA news agency, referring to the lifting of the ban by FIFA. "I think this is a great success for the Muslim nations because now women footballers can compete," Kafashian said. "So we are currently designing a special women's football kit with the help of some domestic sportswear maker." More than 3,600 young athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 years will take part in the inaugural event in Singapore from August 14-26. Kafashian explained that the lifting of the ban came after he met with FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Geneva last month. According to Iranian media, the ban was imposed on October 2009. "So we urgently got ourselves to Switzerland and in our meeting with Blatter we told him about the effort to boost the standing of Iranian women footballers," he explained. "We told him that preventing them playing with the Islamic veil is preventing the growth of (women's) football. "Then FIFA told us that they would study our reasoning and get back to us. They shortly afterwards announced that veiled women could take part in competitions." FIFA have not confirmed they have lifted the ban, saying only in a brief statement: "We have been in contact with the Iranian federation on this matter for the past nine months." The Islamic dress code is mandatory in Iran, which has been under clerical rule for more than three decades. Every post-pubescent woman regardless of her religion or nationality must cover her hair and bodily contours in public. National state-run television rarely shows women's sports events though many Iranian women are avid sports enthusiasts -- and practitioners. Several have won medals in international tournaments that have allowed them to compete while wearing headscarves and observing Islamic dress code, notably Sara Khoshjamal-Fekri, 21. She became a heroine at home as the first Iranian female taekwondo Olympic qualifier and was listed by Time magazine as one of the "100 Olympic Athletes to Watch" at the 2008 Beijing Games, where she was knocked out in the quarter-finals. Marjan Kalhor, national skiing champion and Homa Hosseini, national rowing champion made histroy when they carried the Islamic republic's flag at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olypmics and the Beijing Games resepctively.