Thursday, February 16, 2012

Transmission

No Badminton Diplomacy

TEXT SIZE - +

February 04, 2009

To follow up on yesterday's post. From Reuters:

TEHRAN, Feb 4 (Reuters) -- Iran did not issue visas for a group of U.S. women badminton players to compete in the country this month, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, blaming a "time-consuming process" in handling such applications.

The U.S. State Department said on Monday eight players along with four coaches and managers would visit Iran on Feb. 3-9 to take part in a competition.

It would have been the first sporting exchange between the two foes since the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has said he will pursue greater engagement with the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said they would now not be able to come to the country, which this month marks the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the U.S.-backed shah.

-- Luke Allnutt

Tags: badminton , Iran

This forum has been closed.
Comment Sorting
Comments
     
by: DENNIS JUNIOR from: NYS/USA
February 10, 2009 02:02
It is sad that due to Government issues, VISAS for this event were not worked on in a more timely fashion...

About This Blog

Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org