Zurkhane and modern sports
Development of media sports and sports in Asian and Olympic Games as well as lack of international system for the traditional athletics are among the reasons for slower growth of Zurkhane games compared to other games in the country. To develop its national sports like judo and jujitsu 20, however, Japan began supporting them in schools, universities, and military centers in addition to building an international system to standardize it in other countries which finally led to the addition of judo to Olympics in 1964 as the first Asian games.
In 2000 Sydney Olympics, Japan stood fifteenth in final ranking but developed its golden plan to get the fifth place in 2008 nevertheless they realized this golden plan in 2004 Athens Olympics by standing fifth at final ranking by getting most of their medals from judo. Before the formation of the International Zurkhane Sports Federation, our traditional games did not have their proper place in universities.
On October 12 2004 the great dream realized and Zurkhane sports joined global games as the cultural heritage of Asia and by holding continental and global competitions the Zurkhane games were better known globally along with other sports.
Here, however, we should thank Professor Karl Dane the author of The History of World Sports and the head of OIC in 1936 who recognized the unknown aspects of Zurkhane gamed on his journey to Iran after which he introduced these games as a field to the Koln Sports University.
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Historical Foundations of Zurkhane
Resemblance of Zurkhane architecture to Mithraism temples
