07 Dec 2011
Iran considers adaptive rowing
The seminar focused on establishing an adaptive programme in Tehran and partnering various agencies including the Iranian National Paralympic Committee and various disability groups. Subject matter included an overview of the FISA classification system, disability specific coaching modules (physical, sensory and Intellectual disability), equipment, rigging principles for adaptive boats and performance profiling adaptive athletes.
Goodey was impressed with the facilities at the national training centre in Iran’s capital. Rowing takes place on a lake which has a backdrop of the snow covered peaks of the Alborz Mountains and the famous Azadi national football stadium at the finish of the course. Very little is considered necessary in order to make the venue accessible for adaptive rowers.
Rowing has only been in place for four years in Iran, but it has already established itself internationally with Iran’s first world champion in rowing. Lightweight men’s single sculler, Moshen Shado Naghadeh won at the 2009 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
Women are equally active on this busy training lake. Although they boat from a separate boathouse at the other end of the lake, seen training in their hijab compliant rowing kit, this is a more relaxed dress code than that which existed immediately after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, when women would have been excluded from active sports such as rowing.
Understanding that, the mixed gender adaptive boats of the mixed leg, trunk and arms coxed four and the mixed trunk and arms double, Goodey says, raised a few eyebrows. These boats may be something that is possible in the future. The Iran Rowing & Canoe Federation is now actively seeking to recruit male and female adaptive rowers for the single sculling events (ASM1x and ASW1x) into their programme.
Copy thanks to Simon Goodey.
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