TEHRAN, September 17, 2005 (IslamObnline.net & News Agencies) - An American Muslim runner will be the first woman to represent the US in the 4th International Islamic Women's Games, to be hosted by Tehran from September 22 to 28.
Saira Kureshi, 26, will compete in the 800 and 1500 meter runs, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Saturday, September 17.
The organizers could not provide much information about Kureshi except that "her records meet the minimum standard needed for entering the race".
She will be the first American woman to compete in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Despite severed ties between Iran and the US since 1979, Kureshi is not the first American athlete to come to the Islamic republic.
In 1998 an American wrestling team took part in the international Takhti Cup tournament.
Kureshi will have to be fingerprinted upon arrival, according to Iranian measures taken in retaliation for similar regulations in the United States.
Empowerment
The games were launched in 1993 to give athletes from Muslim countries an opportunity for international competition, while not violating Shari'ah by competing in front of men in inappropriate attire.
"We are seeking to empower and encourage Muslim women, who are absent from the international sports grounds due to their believes," said Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who started the games.
Although Iran has been approached by other Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Qatar wanting to host the games, she sees little chance of them leaving Iran .
"Other countries have different interpretations of Islam. I am not sure they would be able to hold the games like us with such observance of Islamic rules".
Iran sends women athletes to competitions abroad in the few fields where women are able to compete and wear their hijab, such as shooting, taekwondo, fencing, canoeing, chess and horse riding.
In the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Iran had a sole female representative in shooting.
Although Iran has been approached by other Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Qatar wanting to host the games, she sees little chance of them leaving Iran .
"Other countries have different interpretations of Islam. I am not sure they would be able to hold the games like us with such observance of Islamic rules".
Iran sends women athletes to competitions abroad in the few fields where women are able to compete and wear their hijab, such as shooting, taekwondo, fencing, canoeing, chess and horse riding.
In the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Iran had a sole female representative in shooting.
Islam encourages women">Islam encourages women to practice sport under certain rules to preserve their dignity and honor, safeguard them against immoralities and indecency and preserve their chastity while preserving their right in practicing sports.
Luring Athletes
The week-long event has few sponsors and has been allocated a budget of 10 billion rials (1.1 million dollars), which according to Hashemi "is barely enough" to cover costs.
"The games do not satisfy sponsors as there are no television cameras to show their advertisements," she explained.
In order to attract more athletes, this year non-Muslim women have been allowed to participate as long as they are on the national teams of their countries and agree to compete under the stipulated conditions.
Sportswomen from 48 countries, many of them Islamic, are coming to Tehran to compete in 18 sports.
Iran's Christian northern neighbor, Armenia, is sending 17 teams.
Athletics, shooting, table tennis and taekwondo have attracted the most participants.
Britain's futsal (five-a-side football) team, comprising more than a dozen Muslim women, will vie in the games.
In 2001, Britain became the first non-Muslim country to take part in the tournament.