Iran president names sports minister

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has introduced Hamid Sajjadi to the Parliament (Majlis) as the candidate to head the newly-established Ministry of Sports and Youth, reported Press TV.

In a letter sent to Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday, President Ahmadinejad named Sajjadi as the country's first minister of sports and youth, IRNA reported.

The announcement came after Larijani filed an official complaint with the Judiciary against President Ahmadinejad, criticizing the administration for not implementing the parliamentary ratification concerning the formation of the new ministry.

Iranian Parliament in January voted for the establishment of the ministry. Out of 212 parliamentarians, 157 voted in favor, 44 voted against and 11 abstained.

According to the ratification, the Physical Education Organization and the National Youth Organization will be merged to form the Ministry of Sports and Youth.

The lawmakers that pushed for the formation of the ministry say it would hold officials responsible for sports and youth affairs accountable to the Parliament.

The country's first Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi criticized the legislation then, arguing that it imposes further financial costs and responsibilities on the government.

Many officials and experts in Iran's athletic departments have also voiced concern about the convergence of the two organizations as counterproductive, sharing the position of President Ahmadinejad's administration.


/Trend/