There were also events held throughout other provinces in the country, which were broadcast on television and saw around 40,000 people attending in total.

As part of the festivities in Tehran, participants received an inclusive National Paralympic Day medal and took part in a range of sports.

In addition, some of Iran's top Para-athletes demonstrated sports such as football, powerlifting, shooting, boccia and archery.

A special parade took place that saw Para-equestrian riders parade with the flags of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Organisation of Sports for the Disabled.

Iranian Sports Minister Mahmoud Goudarzi joined other dignitaries attending the event in Tehran, which is being run as part of the second edition of National Paralympic Week currently taking place from Friday (October 10) to Thursday (October 16).

Participants took part in a range of sports in Tehran including seven-a-side football, inspired by the Iranian side that won bronze at London 2012 ©Getty Images



A video message from IPC President Sir Philip Craven was played out, while IPC Shooting world champion Sareh Javamardidodmani read out a special message from Wilfried Lemke, special advisor to the United Nations secretary general on Sport for Development and Peace.

Iran first competed at the Paralympic Games in 1988 at the Summer Games in Seoul and made their debut in the Winter Paralympics at Nagano in 1998.

Iranian athletes have claimed a total of 113 Paralympic medals at Summer Games, while Alpine skiing accounts for its four Winter Paralympic Games medals.

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