Has anyone else heard this?

that's the plan.

I'm guessing that the US won't be attending... but they'll be b!tching about it though

I think this would be a logistical nightmare for too many teams. It's a nice gesture on the part of the IDBF to consider it, but I don't think this will pan out.

The Iranians will be coming to Tampa.

The iranians in prague impressed everyone. Flat out good paddling, and the race site looks outstanding.

Aside from the U.S., what other countries would be hesitant to go to Iran to compete?

hesitant? Obama and Ahmadinejad are home boys.

I guess that means no beer tent at the end of the races.
In case I make it or decide to go, that's an added stress!

I'm out

At this time, there is no reason not to go to Iran to race. Anyone who doesn't want to go is completely ignorant.

Surely the women's teams will have fun time there.

Before judging a culture try experiencing it.

Typical Americans.

instead of a fireworks show, they'll just set off car bombs.

wonder how much money changed hands for this decision. world champs in Iran sounds like somebodys idea of a good joke.

I wouldn't be going, and I believe closer to the date most countries Governments and foreign affair departments will be advising against travel there.

This makes perfect sense based on the IDBF's continued attempts to grow the sport in countries newer to the sport.

I can't say I agree 100% with it and that there are probably some better choices, but I have a feeling that it will be very well supported and participants will be treated very very well.

I would be more interested to know if traditional dress is waved for sporting events and visiting teams.

http://studenttravel.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=studenttravel&cdn=travel&tm=40&gps=842_386_1916_1005&f=00&su=p284.9.336.ip_p531.50.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.iranianvisa.com/dress.htm

http://studenttravel.about.com/od/womenstudenttravelers/a/muslimclothing.htm

Not sure how current those sites are and I apologize if they are not. My asking is out of curiosity and not meant in any way to be inflammatory.

Women who visit Iran do not have to wear traditional dress. However, some women do cover their heads when visiting in order to not stand out.

"Anyone who doesn't want to go is completely ignorant."

Oh really? So if I don't agree with their record on human rights, the rights of women, free speech, foreign policy, nuclear power/armnament, etc, etc...

If I decide I do not want to go there for any or all of those reasons, then for that I am "completely ignorant"?

That sounds simplistic, overly categorical, and...totally and completely IGNORANT.

"Oh really? So if I don't agree with their record on human rights, the rights of women, free speech, foreign policy, nuclear power/armnament, etc, etc...
If I decide I do not want to go there for any or all of those reasons, then for that I am "completely ignorant"?"


Yes, you are. The only reason why you should not compete in Iran is if you fear for your safety. All the other stuff should remain separate from competing. Did you go to Prague and berate the Iranian teams? Did you tell them they should not be racing against the rest of the world because of "their record on human rights, the rights of women, free speech, foreign policy, nuclear power/armnament, etc, etc...".

The Worlds were held in China not long ago, remember? While not as bad as Iran's, China's record on human rights and free speech is quite dismal. Did you stay home in silent protest for the China Worlds? Heck, did the WORLD stay away from the Beijing Olympics last year?

I met many of the Iranian paddlers in Penang last year. They were all great people who didn't want to let the politics between the U.S. and Iran come between our love of dragonboating and, more important, the fact that we're all human beings. I also learned that not all Iranians agree with their government's policies -- just as they learned that not all Americans agreed with George Bush!

Don't you get it? This is an opportunity for us all to be ambassadors. Iran will come to Tampa for sure. Peace through sport brother (and sister).

"Yes, you are. The only reason why you should not compete in Iran is if you fear for your safety."

No. That is not the only reason.

I am not Jewish, nor an Israeli, but I refuse to have anything to do with a state that has repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel off the map. I just can't support it.

"Friendship through sport" yes, I can agree with that. But I won't be a whore for it.

If this is true, the IDBF are a bunch of idiots. Why not have the races in Afghanistan?

Morons.

Do not confuse the paddlers who desperately want this event, and their government.

Many of us thought George bush was equally a cracker jack and a war monger, but that did not stop us thinking less about the average American.

Sounds like if you're an Iranian-American, don't go. Other Americans should be OK.

But four years is a long time.

Canadian version:http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=132000

Visa required. Dual citizens have the most potential for problems. For women, hair/arm coverage is recommended. Homosexuality is a criminal offense. During Ramadan, public eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset is discouraged.

Right or wrong this will be the least attended Worlds ever.

I wonder if it will be bad enough to force a change of venue. and once countries skip once, do they keep the programs going and go to the next one? Sure some will, but some newer ones to the sport may not.

What a way to grow dragon boating! Have the World Championships in a mother f'in war zone.

If the Iranian federation and the IDBF can pull this off - it would be a great opportunity for cultural exchange and I would go in a heartbeat.

Regardless, the Iranian team were great neighbours in the tent city at the race site and in our hotel. Really enjoyed their friendliness and sportsmanship. I hope it all works out for them.

...except for the fact that your men can't take picture with their women. Like they are that hot anyways...

Wrong.

I am correct. They are not hot.

Actually some of them are very attractive.....you're just narrow-minded & uneducated.

And the post was correcting your belief that you cannot take photos with Iranian women. Uneducated indeed.

Can anyone confirm a rumor I heard, that it 2013 will be in Iran simply because no one else submitted a bid? If this is true, then what does that say about the work IDBF is performing in making this a world class event. IF IDBF were doing their job, then there would be several venues vying to host our world championships. If we are left with Iran or nothing, then we need a clean sweep of IDBF officers and get new blood.

That cannot be true.

I'm sure "somewhere" in Canada would hold it every year if they had the option.

You can be in photos with them. You cannot touch them. Thems the rules!

$10
one song
keep your hands to yourself.

oops, wrong set of rules.

That cannot be true.
I'm sure "somewhere" in Canada would hold it every year if they had the option.

Has Canada ever bid on the regular IDBF worlds? Not talking about the club crew championships in 2006. It will be coming to North America for the second time in 2011 but both times in the USA.

God I hope the Iranians are not reading this bull**** thread.

I hope this thread doesn't drag on until 2013!

somebody please bid on the 2013 worlds!!! please!!!

I have a bag of magic beans.... But those are really for a cow, so I cannot spare them.

You need to figure out how the IDBF works and get involved. I didn't see Canada put in a bid, or anyone else. It's not up to the IDBF board to put in a bid - potential host countries submit a bid - not the IDBF board. If the bid is accepted by the IDBF board it is then passed on to the members of the general assembly (the country reps - who you presumably elected for your country) for ratification. There were quite a few questions raised about the bid proposal from Iran, including those related to female athletes and travel issues. While the vote passed, it was not without discussion, however I think most country reps who voted for Iran did so as a sign of support for the Iranian athletes, because the venue looked acceptable and because it is in the intersts to develop the sport in the middle east.

Further to the discussions, both pro and con:

I fear that the choice of Iran may have detrimental effects for dragon boat development if countries stay away. We want to have good WC's (which I think Iran can provide on a technical level and I think they will be safe for our athletes) with the most number of countries and paddlers possible. But that second part is the sticking point. Will the choice of Iran reduce the number of competitors and nations, thus having an undesirable effect? But, as one poster noted, four years is a long time away.
My political conscience pricks too. I don't want to be seen as supporting a government that is not fair to its people as seen through western eyes, but that is pretty hypocritical when you consider the parallels: George W. Bush stole his first election, was not re-elected by the popular vote, is a religious conservative and on top of it all lied about WMD in Iraq. Did that mean that Canadians and Europeans and others should have boycotted sports events in the US during his presidency? Maybe. Does that mean all Americans and American institutions are evil? Definitely not!
I'm glad I've got four years to think about attending the WC in Iran. In the meanwhile I will follow developments in Iran as much as possible and hope the IDBF also takes some women along on their site visits to Iran before the championships to gauge the climate for the female athletes. In the meanwhile, I'm glad we can all enjoy this great sport together no matter where we come from and regardless of what our political system is.

FBW - thank you.

im wearing my life vest during the race

Are you ****ing kidding me? Nice job IDBF.

"I am not Jewish, nor an Israeli, but I refuse to have anything to do with a state that has repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel off the map. I just can't support it."

Can someone provide the sources to support that "Iran REPEATEDLY threaten to wipe Israel off the map"? I can't find it!

Here, knock yourself out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad_and_Israel

This goes on and on and on. Looks like the initial "wiped off the map" statement is subject for debate, but read on and see Ahmadinejad's many inflamatory statements on a number of other topics. Then read on as people debate what he said or didn't say.

All I can say is wow, what a nutbag!

This is not about politics. This is about the sport we love & the ability of this amazing sport in making a difference. Hasn't dragon boating changed your lives for better? aren't you a better person because of it?

Can you widen your perspective a bit and go from "Me" to "We"? Now can you envision how this can help spreading peace around the world?
To begin, stop allowing CNN and Fox news to brainwash you further. Sport is probably the only thing the Iranians have left that gives them joy. This is an outlet of hope for them and a window to show the world who they really are but also to interact with the outside world. Hopefully this will open our eyes to their truth and make us less ignorant so we can support the Iranian people against their government in International level.

Thank you IDBF for giving a chance to those who have no voice.

Wow naiveté at its best! I love the people that asked for the proof that Iran has mentioned previously that they will wipe Isreal off the planet. What rock are you living under? Maybe you'd better crawl out from under that rock and watch the news sometimes. Might do you some good.

By the way, this has nothing to do with the people of Iran, rather it is their regime. The paddlers from Iran have been very friendly at all races they have attended and undoubtedly would change the current situation if they could.

Questions for the IDBF, especially in light of their inability to do even simple things in the past for world championship competitions (witness the lovely closing parties in past events):

1. How will you ensure security for paddlers in a country which has acknowledged ties to two terrorists groups, Hezzbolah and Hamas?

2. What uniforms will the women from each country be able to wear? Everyone paddling in a hijab?

3. Will we have mixed races? It is against their religion for unmarried women and men to comingle without a male chaparone from the women's family. They have police which crack down on the people of Iran. Notice that they had no mixed crews at worlds.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/pp120508.shtml

It'd be nice to think that we could all wander through life and pick the daisies, think just because we paddle we're all warm and fuzzy with each other in the world and wish the real world didn't exist, but it does.

Did you know that there are also christians and Jews living in Iran?

Canadians murder baby seals. OMG - can't have a dragon boat worlds there now can we??

What has more of a claim on life: A baby seal, or a baby cow?

(or an Iranian woman)

^
|
|
What the hell does that mean?

Or an unborn human baby??
The point is that you can find fault within any society and if everyone simply boycotted international athletic events because of personal beliefs then we're all going to be less enriched by the dragon boat experience. The reality is that perceived societal faults are 1. Usually as a result of govenment policy and 2. Analyzed on the basis of your own personal beliefs or by the influence that your own government and media has on you.
Sports is supposed to circumvent all of that. It trickles down from the Olympic movement to non-Olympic sports like dragon boat... I hope. Iran and countries marginalized from the west are anxious to host the rest of the world partly because of their political agenda. I get that. Trust me, you will all the benefactors of this political effort. It will be an amazing championships.

All this "deep" discourse over politics and what not ignores the fundamental issue as to whether a US and maybe a Canadian paddler would go to Iran. It all comes down to the significant other(s) and what the perceived risk is at the time and perceived often has little to do with actual risk. Dragon boat is a leisure pursuit, self funded for most and those who let someone run off to Prague or elsewhere may not be too keen on letting them go to Teheran. There will be a few who don't go on political principles but the majority who don't go will be because of the political situation in their relationships.

Canadians better avoid Tampa as several Canadians have been illegally detained while passing through the US and knowingly sent to certain countries to be tortured , with help from the Canadian spy agency.
Of course if you are talking about human rights ,there are American military prisons where people have been jailed under inhumane conditions for years without due process , American torturing of military prisnors etc. , etc.
The point being do not be hypocrits. What ever country you live in , your government will do nasty , illegal things if they are able. Not to the same degree of course , but less guilty is not something to be proud of.
Sports boycotts are just stupid , cheap political posturing. The African boycott of the Montreal Olympics , the Western boycott of the Moscoe Olympics , the Communist boycott of the L.A. Olympics.
They all scored cheap political points at home , cost their atheletes their lifes dream and accomplished nothing.
Boycotting a DB worlds is even stupider , because nobody will notice.

Also , the Iran paddlers are friendly , nice and getting to be pretty good dragon boat racers. The women are really cute as well.

October 2 2009, 6:15 PM

"Maybe you'd better crawl out from under that rock and watch the news sometimes. Might do you some good." You must have watched a lot of news. You make sure who run or own them - especially the ones that provide lots of opinions.

"Questions for the IDBF, especially in light of their inability to do even simple things in the past for world championship competitions (witness the lovely closing parties in past events):

1. How will you ensure security for paddlers in a country which has acknowledged ties to two terrorists groups, Hezzbolah and Hamas?

2. What uniforms will the women from each country be able to wear? Everyone paddling in a hijab?

3. Will we have mixed races? It is against their religion for unmarried women and men to comingle without a male chaparone from the women's family. They have police which crack down on the people of Iran. Notice that they had no mixed crews at worlds."

Sheeeesh... You should reduce watching CNN (the most untrusted news). If that doesn't work, double whatever medication you are on.

Well if we women will have to paddle in a hijab maybe the men should paddle in some similarly uncomfortable item in order to show solidarity with the women - both within and outside of Iran.

Could the above post be any more self-serving?

If the government of Iran cannot declare publicly and formally that the freedom, rights and safety of all visiting atheletes will be guaranteed then no one outside of Iran should go.

That means no traditional Muslim dress for Westerners if they do not wish it. Mixed teams MUST be allowed. Freedom of expression guaranteed, and no prohibtions against U.S. or British paddlers, just for example.

And if the IDBF even thinks about not having Mixed teams compete in Iran, then I am OUT OUT OUT. No further support for this organization.

Don't even think about it, Mike. Do NOT grant an exemption to Iran to not allow Mixed teams. It happens at the official World Championships. Draw that line, or lose your support.

You moron. First for thinking IDBF will eliminate mixed racing. Second for making it personal. Mike Haslam is but one vote on IDBF Council. Third, don't you think IDBF has a contingency if Iran doesn't play by the rules? The Olympic regatta course in London will be ready and waiting in 2013.

Moron? Name calling: that is what I call making it personal.

If you think that the IDBF wouldn't stoop so low as to allow a championships to be allowed with seriou concessions, including cancelling mixed racing or hosting it another venue then YOU are the moron, or at least woefully naive.

Contingency I can accept, but ass-kissing is what I expect. And however pays for the plane tickets usually wins.

Doubt it? Moron indeed.

Moron? Name calling: that is what I call making it personal.

If you think that the IDBF wouldn't stoop so low as to allow a championships to be allowed with seriou concessions, including cancelling mixed racing or hosting it another venue then YOU are the moron, or at least woefully naive.

Contingency I can accept, but ass-kissing is what I expect. And however pays for the plane tickets usually wins.

Doubt it? Moron indeed.

whoever - moron

Nice rebuttal. You should be on "Larry King".

Don't let your immagination running wild guys! I'm sure the IDBF and Iran know that if they want our paddlers to follow their culture, we wouldn't go. So just sit back and wait for what they say.

Just to clarify, wearing hijab is not part of Iranian culture, the women are forced to wear it. What you are forced to do is not your culture.

Women who visit Iran do NOT have to wear a hijab.

Women who visit Iran do NOT have to wear a hijab.

I was not at the Asian Canoe champs recently held in Iran, but was told that the female, non-Iranian paddlers had to wear head and body coverings when they were not paddling. The Iranian CF "generously" provided the garments.

(By the way hijab is a very general term that can be applied to simply a hair covering such as a shawl or a full body cover.)

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17039.html?cid=rsstsn


"I am more convinced than ever that the Games have and will prove to be a positive catalyst for change in China,'' said Hein Verbruggen, who led both the IOC's evaluation commission for the 2008 Games and its co-ordination commission.

The former IOC member's 28-minute report made no mention of the arrests and harassment of dissidents before and during the Games, protests that were violently crushed in Tibet, forced evictions to clear the way for Olympic construction or other abuses documented by human rights groups.

"Whatever is being said about Beijing 2008, let's remember that the Olympic Games remained fundamentally a force for good and a catalyst for collaboration and change,'' Verbruggen said.


Perhaps one day the IDBF will write a similar report patting itself on the back for it's choice of Iran in 2013.

If you are not in favor of going to Iran, then let IDBF know via Mike Haslam. If it looks like it truly won't be a well-attended worlds, then IDBF will have to look at another option - after all it is in the interest of db to continue to have large, well-attended, well-represented championships. I would only find it a shame for the Iranian db'ers themselves who would like to host the championship. Not all of them agree with their gov't either so it would be nice for them to feel they have some moral support from fellow paddlers. Tricky situation.

Rugby and Golf make it in to Olympics???? There has always been a debate stating that the olympic commitee would not vote in a sport that would as many athletes as Dragon Boat would... They just did, Rugby has more.

Rugby sevens has been added... smaller team than a dragon boat.

I think this shows that a sport has to reduce the team size in order to get in to the Olympics.

10-person dragonboats, anyone?

yes, easier to fill, boats are cheaper and can be moved easier too. It would be more competitive right?

...war canoe?

War canoe is not international, really only in Canada, and would likely not get support from europe, south or east asia or the US, latin america etc... Dragon boat is the obvious choice as a significantly more popular international team paddle sport.

I would go to Iran. Another poster said it would not be well attended. BS, it totally would. The only people who would boycot would be the Americans. No problem having worlds without Americans.

I would even venture to suggest more countries would go to Iran than Tampa in 2011. Simply because more European countries would attend Iran over Tampa.

Peace!

"No problem having worlds without Americans."

And that is exactly what the Americans said at the IDBF meeting something along the lines of (paraprhasing): "we recognize that the US view is particular to our country and that we respect the right of the IDBF to choose a venue that is in the best interest of promoting the sport regardless of whether the USA would or would not attend the event."

The US reps fully realized that the issues with Iran were particular to the US-Iran tensions.

"The US reps fully realized that the issues with Iran were particular to the US-Iran tensions. "


And if Iran nukes Israel (as Iran has threatened), still only the U.S. would have issues with Iran?

if you let Threats control your life you would lead a small shallow life.

Threats and actions are two very dissimilar thing.

Do we have to go back to the BS fabricated facts in Iraq?

Ieaq is a threat to the world! They have nuclear wepons! Wrong! Way to f that one up.

Relax don't go to ran because you are afraid of their threats and let the rest of the world enjoy the Irainian culture and hospitality.

have fun at home.

I wouldn't worry about anyone nuking anyone.

If it did happen nobody would be going to any events in that area for about 10,000 years or so.

Nobody is that stupid. If your going to drop a nuke on anyone in this day and age you might as well drop them on yourself at the same time and get it over with.

Bump ...

So the IDBF is sending a delegation to Iran to see about how women paddlers will be treated and what can be done ...

The delegation will be all male, no females are going along to see for themselves ....

why would no women paddlers go?

Are you stupid?

Have you ever been to Iran.

I HAVE. IT's a very peacfull place, very metropolitan. My wife was with me, no problems whatsoever. I would go to worlds there in a second.

The problem is warmongers who never travel outside their home state and watch hours of Wolf Blitzer and all that CNN fear television.

Reality is Iran is a nice place and they are not going to nuke anyone.

I've never been there personally, but a couple of friends travelled there last year as part of their year long trip and bar none he said iranians were one of the most hospitable and educated people of all the countries they travelled through.