Iran Becomes the 100th Member of the International Surfing Federation

Six years after an Irish woman surfed on the shores of Iran, the country was accepted as the 100th member of the International Surfing Federation. According to Reuters, the journey of Irish surfer Iski Britten to Iran in 2010 sparked a surfing movement on the beaches of Sistan and Baluchestan, and interest in the sport grew so rapidly that this year the Iranian Surfing Federation was officially formed, with women participating in the sport while adhering to full coverage and hijab. The astonishing expansion of this sport in Iran has been welcomed by the International Surfing Federation, which considers it an important transformation in the globalization of the sport. Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Federation, stated: 'This decision is symbolically very important for us, both in terms of accepting the 100th member country, which is a historic step in the expansion of this sport, and because it shows that the growth of surfing can foster closeness and connection between different countries.' Other countries expected to join the International Surfing Federation include Haiti, Sierra Leone, and Bangladesh. After returning to Iran in 2013, Iski Britten launched a website called Waves of Freedom to encourage Iranian women to surf. Based on her activities in this field, a documentary titled 'In the Midst of the Sea' was made, featuring Iski Britten alongside Mona Saraji, a skier, and Shahla Yasini, an Iranian swimmer, surfing together. Ms. Britten stated: 'Seeing the birth and rapid expansion of surfing in Iran has shown me that sports can help us gain a deeper understanding of the world around us and each other. Ultimately, this can create a suitable space and opportunity for contact between different cultures and a positive and constructive relationship with the natural environment of the seas.' The International Olympic Committee is set to accept surfing as an Olympic sport during this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and as a result, surfing will officially be added to the Olympic events starting from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.