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of Educational and Cultural Affairs U.S. Wrestlers compete in Iran at prestigious Takhti Cup Through the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sports diplomacy program and on behalf of the U.S. government, twenty American athletes and coaches, representing the USA Wrestling Federation, competed in the Iranian wrestling tournament, the Takhti Cup, in Bandar Abbas, Iran, January 18-19, 2007. In this capacity USA Wrestling not only represented the U.S. in competition on the mat but also through their interactions and experiences with the Iranian people outside of their competition. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is currently supporting professional exchange programs for Iranians for the first time since 1979 in response to the President's call for expanded people-to-people exchanges with Iran. Wrestling is Iran's most popular sport and Iranian fans are often considered the most knowledgeable and appreciative wrestling fans in the world. The U.S. and Iranian Wrestling Federations have a strong and positive relationship that goes back over 30 years. The U.S. and Iran wrestling teams are consistently among the top three or four nations in the world in freestyle wrestling. When first arriving in Iran, the wrestlers received a warm welcome and friendly greeting that set the tone for the rest of the trip. They were each given a bouquet of flowers by young children dressed in traditional attire. "It has been great here," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender, "We have been well received and have been treated with the utmost hospitality." During the wrestling tournament the Americans were greeted to a standing ovation when they arrived at the arena, which held 3,000 but had 5,000 additional fans outside trying to get in. One of best moments of goodwill during the tournament was when USA wrestler Mo Lawal walked amongst the Iranian fans visiting with them and shaking their hands. He soon became a crowd favorite and celebrity amongst the Iranian spectators. The American's did not win the tournament but were successful on the individual level in winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The USA Wrestling team received VIP treatment wherever they went. While in Bandar Abbas the Iranian Federation took the Americans on a sightseeing and shopping tour where Iranian children ran up to ask them for autographs and the Americans gave away Olympic pins. "People seemed to be curious about us, just as we were about them," commented Van Stokes of USA Wrestling. The wrestlers embraced their role as sports ambassadors and felt that their visit had created a bridge of understanding with the Iranian people.
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