Among the participating countries is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which will be represented by 40 athletes at the marquee sporting event, including 29 men and 11 women, competing in 13 sports.

As in previous Olympic Games, wrestling, weightlifting, and taekwondo are expected to be Iran’s primary medal contenders. However, there are also hopes for strong performances in gymnastics, table tennis, and climbing, according to their respective federations.

Iran’s Olympic contingent has already arrived in Paris in batches, with the third group landing on Tuesday morning. The first batch departed on July 16 and the second batch on July 19.

Speaking to the Press TV website, sports journalist Hatam Shiralizadeh highlighted Iran’s medal prospects in wrestling, taekwondo, and weightlifting, predicting a potential gold medal in wrestling.

He noted that surprises and unexpected results are always possible at the biggest sporting spectacle that takes place every four years and marks the pinnacle of sporting excellence. Reflecting on Iran’s performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Shiralizadeh said Iran won three precious gold medals, finishing 27th overall with a total of three gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

He emphasized that the Olympic Games represent the peak of competition for any country, with nations striving for the best possible results through years of preparation. Shiralizadeh said the Olympic success can inspire young and promising athletes in Iran, turning medalists into beacons of inspiration for youngsters.  He also pointed to challenges faced by Iranian athletes in terms of lack of access to world-class equipment and state-of-the-art facilities due to sanctions imposed by the West.