The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every fourth year among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India in 1951, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games, they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the breakup of the Asian Games Federation. The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and are described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.
The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in New Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. The Games received names like First Asiad, 1951 Asiad, and New Dehli 1951. A total of 489 athletes representing 11 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in 57 events from eight sports and discipline. The Games was the successor of the Far Eastern Games and the revival of the Western Asiatic Games. The 1951 Asiad were originally scheduled to be held in 1950, but postponed until 1951 due to delays in preparations. On 13 February 1949, the Asian Games Federation was formally established in Delhi, with Delhi unanimously announced as the first host city of the Asian Games.
Many sports in Iran are both traditional and modern. Tehran, for example, was the first city in West Asia to host the Asian Games in 1974, and continues to host and participate in major international sporting events to this day. Freestyle wrestling has been traditionally regarded as Iran's national sport, however today, football is the most popular sport in Iran. Because of economic sanctions, the annual government's budget for sport was about $80 million in 2010 or about $1 per person.
The 1958 Asian Games, officially the Third Asian Games and commonly known as Tokyo 1958, was a multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 May to 1 June 1958. It was governed by the Asian Games Federation. A total of 1,820 athletes representing 20 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in the Games. The program featured competitions in 13 different sports encompassing 97 events, including four non-Olympic sports, judo, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Four of these competition sports – field hockey, table tennis, tennis and volleyball – were introduced for the first time in the Asian Games.
The 7th Asian Games, also knwon as Tehran 1974, were held from 1 to 16 September 1974 in Tehran, Iran. The Aryamehr Sports Complex was built for the Games. The Asian Games were hosted in the Middle East for the first time. Tehran, the capital of Iran, played host to 3,010 athletes coming from 25 countries/NOCs, the highest number of participants since the inception of the Games.
Iran, formerly known as Persia before 1935 and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979, first participated in the Olympic Games in 1900. Iran has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since 1948, except for 1980 and 1984 due to political boycotts. Iran has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games on several occasions since 1956.
Iran participated in the 1974 Asian Games as a host, and was ranked 2nd with 36 gold medals at this Asiad.
The 2011 Asian Winter Games, officially known as the 7th Asian Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event held in Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, from January 30 and to February 6, 2011. A total of 991 athletes representing 26 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in these games, competing in 69 events from 11 different sports and disciplines.[a]
The 1982 Asian Games [a] was a multi-sport event held in Delhi, India, from 12 November to 4 December 1982. A total of 3,411 athletes from 33 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in these games, competing in 147 events in 21 sports and 22 disciplines. The number of participating countries was the greatest in Asian Games history. Sport events of handball, equestrian, rowing and golf were included for the first time; while fencing and bowling were excluded. This medal table ranks the participating NOCs by the number of gold medals won by their athletes.
The 1974 Asian Games was a multi-sport event held in Tehran, Iran from September 1, 1974, to September 16, 1974. This was the first time that Asian Games were celebrated in any Middle East country. A total of 3,010 athletes selected from 25 Asian National Olympic Committees participated in 16 sports divided into 202 events. The number of participating countries was the greatest in Asian Games history, eighteen nations competed in Bangkok, host of the 1970 Asian Games. Fencing, gymnastics (artistic) and women's basketball were included for the first time; while sailing—which made its debut in the previous Asian Games—was not included, however since 1978, sailing is a part of the Asian Games sports.
North Korea participated in the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, Iran from September 1, 1974 to September 16, 1974. This revision of the Games was the debut of North Korea in Asian Games. North Korea was represented by the Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korean athletes claimed 46 medals in total, including 15 gold, and finished at the fifth position in a medal table.
Israel participated in the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, Iran from 1 September 1974 to 16 September 1974. This was the last appearance of Israel in Asian Games. Athletes from Israel won overall 19 medals, including seven gold, and finished sixth in a medal table.
India participated in the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, Iran from 1 to 16 September 1974. Athletes from India won overall 28 medals, including four gold, and finished seventh in a medal table.
Pakistan participated in the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, Iran from 1 to 16 September 1974. Athletes from Pakistan won overall 11 medals, including two gold, and finished 11th in a medal table.
Gymnastics was contested at the 1974 Asian Games, held in Tehran, Iran from September 1, 1974, to September 16, 1974. It was the first time that gymnastics was included as the medal sport in the Asian Games, and only artistic events were contested. In the Games, only four participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) succeeded in winning any medal. China lead the medal table, with overall 18 medals, Japan finished second with four gold, and total nine medals. South Korea, although won only four total medals but its two gold helped it to clinch third position in final standings, while North Korea with one gold and 11 overall medals finished last.
North Korea participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Their participation marked their sixth Asian Games appearance. The North Korean delegation consisted of 318 people. North Korean athletes won total nine gold, eleven silver, and thirteen bronze medals. North Korea finished ninth in the final medal table standings.
Komeil Ghasemi is a retired Iranian wrestler who won a gold medal in the men's freestyle 120 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Ghasemi was awarded his Olympic gold medal after the two wrestlers ahead of him failed drug tests. Ghasemi is the most successful Iranian heavyweight wrestler at the Olympic Games.
Mahdi Olad is an Iranian Paralympic athlete specializing in shot put. He represented Iran at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
Iran competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. Since the nation's return in 1948 after having made their debut in 1900, Iranian athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games except for Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984, citing political reasons.
Mobina Nematzadeh is an Iranian Taekwondo athlete. She won a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the women's 49 kg weight class. Nematzadeh won the Olympic quota in the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament In Tai'an, China.She also won one of the Bronze medals in the 49 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.
