Iran Joins World Curling Federation, Expanding Winter Sports Presence

Tehran, The Gulf Observer: The head of the Ski Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abbas Nazarian, has officially announced that Iran has become a full member of the World Curling Federation. Speaking to media on Saturday, Nazarian stated that this development follows initial steps taken by the National Olympic Committee of Iran to formally engage with World Curling, solidifying Iran’s commitment to expanding its winter sports portfolio.

Iran’s recent membership in World Curling represents the culmination of sustained efforts, beginning with Iran’s participation as a guest in last year’s World Curling events. “In the meantime, we undertook the necessary correspondence to formalize Iran’s position within the Federation,” Nazarian explained. This achievement marks a milestone for Iran as it seeks to broaden its engagement in international winter sports.

Curling, a precision sport, involves players sliding large, polished granite stones—or “rocks”—across an ice sheet toward a marked target area known as the “house.” The sport is played by two teams, each with four players, who take turns aiming for the center of the house, making curling a strategic pursuit akin to sports like bowls, boules, and shuffleboard. Iran’s membership in the World Curling Federation now enables its athletes to participate more actively in global curling competitions, paving the way for further development and interest in the sport among Iranian athletes and sports enthusiasts.