In an effort to enhance intersectoral cooperation and leverage the capacities of social responsibility programs within organizations, a cordial meeting was held between the officials of the Federation and the executives of Hegta Holding.
According to the Federation’s Public Relations office, the meeting included Dr. Jalil Koohpayeh Zadeh, Federation President; Mohammad Ali Hosseinpour, Presidential Advisor; Majid Nezami, Secretary-General; Mohammad Keshavarz Nouri, Director; and Ramazanpour, Cultural Representative of the Federation. From Hegta Holding, Dr. Alireza Tabesh, CEO; Manoochehr Naseralmalki, Economic Advisor to the CEO; and Dr. Mehrshad Kazemi, Head of the International Travel and Tourism Services Company, attended.
At the meeting’s outset, Dr. Koohpayeh Zadeh reviewed the Federation’s history, achievements, and growth phases. He emphasized that originally the proud veterans of the country contributed as athletes in national teams, and today their invaluable experience benefits the technical teams and various associations while athletes with disabilities actively compete in national teams.
Dr. Koohpayeh Zadeh noted that the Federation currently oversees 9 Paralympic and 8 non-Paralympic sports disciplines, catering to individuals with physical, mobility, and intellectual disabilities. He highlighted that the Federation’s athletes have won the majority of Iran’s medals at Para-Asian and Paralympic Games. Recognizing the inclusion of intellectually disabled athletes in athletics, table tennis, and swimming events, the Federation is striving to identify more talented individuals in this category to further bolster the nation’s success.
He described veterans and disabled sports as deeply inspiring and “family-centered” since athletes often receive strong support from their families due to their physical conditions. Their high learning speed, determination, and strong willpower typically lead them to greater achievements. Given the higher peak age for athletes in this field, investing in young talents promises long-term returns for national sports.
The Federation President affirmed their mission to showcase these successful athletes globally, emphasizing that their notable accomplishments defy their disabilities and often surpass those of able-bodied athletes. The Federation aims to sustain the health, motivation, and career longevity of veterans and disabled athletes with enhanced support from various organizations.
Responding to these aims, Dr. Alireza Tabesh, CEO of Hegta Holding, expressed great appreciation for the achievements of athletes in this sector. He welcomed all forms of interaction and cooperation with the Federation to develop sports among this important community. Dr. Tabesh highlighted opportunities to activate sports tourism in the country and promote the visibility of veterans’ and disabled athletes’ achievements.
He proposed ideas such as organizing impactful campaigns, educational workshops, and offering discount packages for transportation and tourism services tailored for these champions.
Concluding the meeting, both parties agreed to establish a working group consisting of Federation and Hegta Holding representatives, focused on expanding support for veterans and disabled sports. They planned to develop specialized tourism programs named “Tavan-Gard” dedicated to providing travel services for athletes with disabilities.
Following the meeting, the delegates from Hegta Holding and the Federation visited the national boccia team’s training camp to observe the athletes’ preparation efforts firsthand.
