Culture

Iran has a long history of art, music, architecture, poetry, philosophy, traditions and ideology. Iranian culture has long been a predominant culture of the Middle East and Central Asia, with Persian considered the language of intellectuals during much of the second millennium AD. Nearly all philosophical, scientific or literary work of the Islamic empires was written in Persian and translated to Arabic.

Architecture

The main building types of classical Iranian architecture are the mosque and the palace. Persians were among the first to use mathematics, geometry, and astronomy in architecture, most notably displayed in the massive domes found in the structure of bazaars and mosques. Iranian domes are distinguished for their height, proportion of elements, beauty of form, and roundness of the dome stem. The outer surfaces of the domes are mostly mosaic faced. Persian (Iranian) architecture left a profound influence on the architecture of old civilisations.

Media

The Iranian media is a mixture of private and state-owned, but books and films must be approved by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance before being released to the public. The state also actively monitors the Internet, which has become enormously popular among the Iranian youth. Iran is now the world's fourth largest country of bloggers.

Poetry

Iran's literary tradition is rich and varied, although the world is most familiar with Iranian poetry. So strong is the Persian aptitude for versifying everyday expressions that one can encounter poetry in almost every classical work, whether from Persian literature, science or metaphysics. Persian poetry is recognised worldwide and have served as an inspiration for writers and poets around the World. Rumi is by far the most famous of Iran's poets, although Saadi is considered by many Iranians to be just as influential. Both poets were practitioners of Sufism, and are quoted by Iranians with the same frequency and weight as the Qur'an.

Sports

Many kinds of sports are practiced in Iran, both traditional and modern. Tehran, for example, was the first city in the Middle East to host the Asian Games in 1974, and continues to host and participate in major international sporting events to this day.

Football

Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport in Iran. The national team has qualified for the Football World Cup three times (1978, 1998 and 2006), and is among the football elite in Asia. Many Iranian also play in major European leagues, and many Iranian clubs have hired European players or coaches.

Martial Arts

Due to the low cost and the great benefits for the individual, martial arts have exploded in popularity in Iran in the past 20 years. Kyokushin, Shotokan, Wushu and Taekwondo are the most popular. There are even indigenous styles such as Shinzen Karate or Kan-zen-ryu and Sungjado. One can now find dojos from almost every martial arts style in Iran, with large numbers of followers.

Skiing

Iran is home to numerous mountainous regions, many of which are suitable hiking and skiing, and are gaining increasing popularity among foreign visitors. The Tochal resort is the world's fifth-highest ski resort at over 3,730 m at its highest 7th station. The resort was completed in 1976 shortly before the overthrow of the Shah. It is only a mere 15 minutes away from Tehran's northern districts, and operates 7 months a year. From the Tochal peak, one has a spectacular view of the Alborz range, including the 5,671 metre (18,606 ft) high Mount Damavand, a dormant volcano.

Other Sports

Other popular sports in Iran are volleyball, rallying, weightlifting and basketball. In basketball, Iran has a national team, and a professional league, with good players in Asia. The clubs have begun hiring foreign players and coaches, particularly Americans, into their roster. In rallying, women drivers participate in national rally tournaments, including Iran's successful female driver Laleh Seddigh. Traditional sports such as chess, backgammon, polo and wrestling are also incredibly popular in Iran.