TEHRAN – Iran’s National wrestling hall of fame (aka national wrestling honors museum) opened to the public in Tehran on Saturday.

The museum was officially inaugurated on Jan. 7 in the presence of the minister of sports and youth, the minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts, veterans of the sport and media representatives, IRNA reported.

The museum displays trophies, medals and memorabilia of leading Iranian wrestling champions. The collection has been registered on Iran’s national heritage list, the report said.

Visitors can attend the museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday through Thursday.

The museum is located on the western side of Azadi Stadium, above the national wrestling teams’ training camp, at the Wrestling Federation complex.

Wrestling holds a longstanding position in Iran’s cultural heritage. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed the “Pahlevani and Zoorkhaneh rituals” on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

According to UNESCO, Pahlevani is a traditional martial art that combines wrestling with ritual, poetry and ethical teachings. The practice takes place in a domed structure known as a Zoorkhaneh, where a master leads participants through gymnastic and callisthenic movements accompanied by recited poetry and drum rhythms. Currently, there are about 500 Zoorkhanes across Iran, each comprising practitioners, founders and senior members known as Pishkesvats.

AM