Iran is aiming to be considered a role model to other countries that are looking to change the perceptions of the public towards people with an impairment by promoting their capabilities, officials there claim. 

Each year, the Iranian National Paralympic Committee celebrates its "National Paralympic Week" with a series of sporting events and cultural and development programmes for people with impairment, particularly the younger generation, in a bid to familiarise them with para-sports.

Iran's Zahra Nemati won a gold medal in archery at London 2012 ©Getty Images



In 2014, more than 45,000 people with varying impairments took part in these programmes throughout the country.

Iran finished in its highest ever position of 11th on the medals table at London 2012 with 24 medals, 10 of them gold.

Five of these titles came in athletics, as well as four in powerlifting and one for female archer Zahra Nemati, while medals were also won in sitting volleyball, seven-a-side football and shooting.

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