Iran-Azerbaijan Cycling Tour (August 26-31, 2023)
UCI ASIA TOUR 2.1, ROAD RACE
Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
The Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony for the 36th edition of Iran-Azerbaijan Cycling Tour was held in the remarkable Petrochemical Amphitheater, in Tabriz. The spectacular public amphitheater hosted about 800 hundred audience, the local officials, the members of the City Council, the City Mayor, The Province Governor, the Cyclists, the team managers, the coaches, directors of the teams and the commissionaires to enjoy a mild weather, marked with a gentle breeze, in Tabriz, the capital city in the East Azerbaijan Province. . 
First, some verses from the Holy Koran were recited and the Iranian National Anthem was played to open the ceremony to start officially the the 36th Cycling Tournament at 5.00 p.m. local time. The General Director of Sports & Youth Organization in East Azerbaijan Province, Stoodehnejad, as the Director of the Tour welcomed the participants in the Cycling Tournament to the city Tabriz. Stoodehnejad welcomed all the cyclists to Tabriz. Stoodehnejad thanked the Officials of UCI, the Minister of Sports & Youth, the President of the IRI Cycling Federation and all the local authorities who supported the Organizing Committee to hold the Tour. 
The second speaker was Mr. Fooladgar, Developing Sports for Championships Deputy to the Iranian Minister of Sports & Youth, addressed the audience, saying that he felt honoured to be present in the Opening ceremony of the 36th edition of the Cycling Tour. He said that managing a road race would be difficult since the venue for the event was extended on the roads and the managing board should organize the event in several cities. Fooladgar appreciated the organizing committee of the Tour. He appreciated all the cyclists and whished them all success.  
Abdin Khorram, the Province Governor of East Azerbaijan, was the third speaker. Khorram expressed words of welcome to all the participants, wishing them all to have some memorable days in Azerbaijan Province. The Governor thanked all the cyclists and asked them to represent the tour on their return to their hometown cities and countries. He emphasized on the Sports Diplomacy as a means of communication among the nations. The Province Governor believed that sports, cycling in particular, can be some suitable bridges among the people of the countries. 
Asadi Hashem Kandi, the President of the IRI Cycling Federation, expressed his gratitude toward the President of UCI, the Commissaries and the Cyclists; he also appreciated the local authorities for their sincere support to the Tournament. The president of the Iran Cycling Federation recalled his own experiences of the Tour when he himself used to compete during the three editions of the Azerbaijan Cycling Tour.
Finally, the cyclists in the 15 teams were presented to the audience. The cyclists in their costumes and the directors of the teams walked on the stage particularly decorated for the ceremony and they were introduced to the audience. 
The first stage of the tour will start at 9.00 a.m. local time on Sunday, August 27, 2023 from The Public Shah Goli Park in Tabriz to Urmia (the capital city of the West Azerbaijan Province).
All the speeches were interpreted in English language. 

Written by: Abdullah Bageri Hamidi