Iranian polo added to UNESCO list

منتشر شده در 21 شهریور 1397

(14 Aug 2018) LEAD IN:

The sport of polo, or 'chogan' as it is known in Iran, has been added to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the country.

While polo is played around the world, 'chogan' is a combination of the game of polo accompanied by music and story telling.

STORYLINE:

It's a pleasant summer afternoon in Tehran and this polo match is celebrating Iran's success in registering the ancient sport as 'intangible cultural heritage' with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Polo, called 'chogan' in Persian culture, is known as a royal sport and has been played in Iran for more than 2000 years, according to the United Nations.

The horseback-mounted sport is played by two teams of four players in an open area called the 'meydan'.

Riders hit a small hard ball with wooden mallets to pass the ball through the opponent's goal posts.

Chogan differs from polo in that it is accompanied by traditional music and story telling.

Not every horse is suitable for polo, according to polo player Atiyyeh Abkhezr.

"The horse should be brave and quick to compete in polo. It should be able to run fast and jostle. It should be strong and shouldn't be too tall. It should also be smart and know and love the game," he says.

Players describe polo as an addictive though dangerous game.

In December 2017, UNESCO recognised Iran's nomination of the game as eligible for inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It has been inscribed as "Chogan, a horse - riding game accompanied by music and storytelling."

Head of the Polo Federation of Iran, Hojjatollah Kadkhodaei, says they believe it is the cultural part of the sport of polo that is specific to Iran.

"The sport part of 'chogan' is known as polo around the world. But the cultural part, which we believe is the main part of Iran's 'chogan', is exclusive to Iran, and can't be found anywhere else. That's why we registered this along with music and storytelling," he says.

There are numerous references to polo in Iran's culture, art and literature, and Iran used those references to support its claim.

'Chogan' enthusiasts were happy that the ancient game was recognised globally.

Polo player Mehdi Saberi says the sport has a long tradition in Iran.

"We've heard that our kings in the old times played this sport. Our soldiers, during wars, played this in their free time. They would throw a ball on the ground and do military exercises with the horses and the ball. This should have been registered as an Iranian sport from the beginning. We don't know why it was not recognised as Iranian for a while but we are glad it was finally registered as an Iranian game before it was too late," he says.

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