Great Pars Marathon: Ambiguous, Without Women

"The registration deadline has passed," is the prominent title on the special registration page for the second International Pars Marathon, hosted by the Athletics Federation, which is set to carry the slogan: I RUN IRAN. The main organizer of this event is the company 'Silk Road,' a Dutch firm led by a person named 'Sebastian Stratton.' The representative of this company in Iran is the travel agency Maral Tour, which handles all registration processes for participants. On the last day, the route was changed. In the first announcement published on the Athletics Federation's website, the marathon route began at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, continuing along the Karaj-Tehran highway, Azadi Square, Enghelab Square, and Ferdowsi Square. Marathon runners were supposed to run back to Azadi Stadium after this 21-kilometer route, while half-marathon runners would finish at Ferdowsi Square. In the second announcement from the Athletics Federation, the route section was removed, and no replacement was announced. The newspaper Vaghaye Ettefaghieh reported on Tuesday, quoting Hamid Saadat, the public relations manager of the Athletics Federation, that "the entire route has changed." The new route proposed by the Athletics Federation runs from Azadi Stadium to Azadi Square, a route that, due to its shortness, requires runners to complete it twice. According to Iranian media, the initial route planned for the marathon showcased parts of Iran's history and culture. However, the new route only passes alongside highways and residential apartments in western Tehran. As reported by Shargh newspaper, concerns about security for the event, which is expected to have nearly 600 Iranian and foreign runners, led the security council officials to make such a "strange decision" suddenly. Majid Kiani, the president of the Athletics Federation, stated: "Our opinion was that the race route should allow people to watch the runners. This selected route was the best and most compact option with the least challenges. Initially, we wanted the two iconic landmarks of Tehran, Azadi Tower and Milad Tower, to be along the race route, but under these conditions, the length of the race would increase. For now, Azadi Tower is included in the route. Urban issues are very important for holding a race, and all conditions must be considered." However, the route change was not the only alteration to the race. Three days before the registration deadline, the gender section was initially removed from the registration page, and then when it returned, women were redirected to another page where the marathon route was set as a 10-kilometer course around Lake Azadi. Women had to pay only 50,000 tomans, half of the total registration fee for the marathon, to run this route. The women's marathon also has a different timing; while the men's marathon starts at 6 AM, women will begin running at 4 PM, after the men's race ends. This action faced widespread backlash from women and media. The website iSport, in an article by Negin Bagheri, wrote: "All dreams are now shattered. We women are once again to be separated from the rest of the population, and our race is moved to a different time and place. We have always been pushed back. For exercising, we go to women's parks, for more security to women's wagons, and gradually to banks, cinemas, and women's entrances. This stingy Tehran has closed its hands on us women so much over the years that today nothing remains for us but the dream of a city." On social media, discussions about boycotting the marathon, running on a third route, and running in the streets emerged simultaneously with the marathon. Mahdieh Madani, a marathon participant, tweeted: "We came here under the sun for two hours, and they are just giving us headscarves." According to the latest news, a quota of 200 has been set for women's participation in this marathon, with 150 slots for Iranian women and 50 for foreign women. The newspaper Vaghaye Ettefaghieh reported on Tuesday that there are indications of several American women registering for the marathon, but Hamid Saadat told the newspaper: "We have limitations for holding women's marathons. Running a 42-kilometer distance is no joke. We cannot tell foreign female runners to run this 42 kilometers in a headscarf and covered clothing. We are holding a race in an Islamic country, and we must be able to control everything. We cannot hold women's marathon races while adhering to Islamic conditions." The organizers of the international marathon in Tehran, scheduled for Friday, April 7, have announced that 28 American runners have registered for the event. A review of the marathon registration page shows that at least 31 British runners, 29 German runners, and four Canadian runners have registered. There has been no news yet about the issuance of all requested visas and the entry of all participants into Iran. Previously, the organizers had stated that the Iranian Athletics Federation would facilitate the necessary visas for these runners, but no further explanations have been provided regarding this matter.