Taleqani Says FILA lifts ban, Iran Will Host World Events

Offering a report on a three-member delegation's visit to Switzerland in a press conference, the IWF boss added Mohammad Tavakkol, the FILA vice-president and a member of the world body's board of directors, attended a FILA directorate meeting in Antalya, Turkey, discussing the ban with other members. 

"FILA has lifted its ban and Iran has no problem for hosting the international events," Taleqani quoted Tavakkol as saying.           

The ranking Iranian official said he -- who was accompanied by Tavakkol and Amir Hamidi -- talked to FILA President Raphael Martinetti during their visit to Lausanne last week.                 

Martinetti had said the decision would be made in a session of FILA's board of directors in Antalya, said Taleqani, adding that fortunately the directorate members have decided to announce the ban null and void as of June 22. 

"We also bid for hosting the world senior's freestyle event in 2005, Asian freestyle and Greco-Roman meets in 2004, and world Greco-Roman bouts in 2004 and Martinetti agreed," said the jubilant Taleqani. 

Six top Greco-Roman wrestling teams of the world will take part in the world event to be held in Tehran in late April 2004, he added.

"The FILA supremo expressed his dissatisfaction over the U.S. permanent hosting of the world freestyle event and accepted Iran's bid for holding the bouts in 2005," Taleqani said.        

KK/SM

End

MNA