Speaking in the inaugural ceremony of School Sports Olympiad held in Alborz High School in Tehran, Mahmoud Goudarzi added that in developed countries, more than 40 percent of people exercise every day while the figure for Iran is meager.
He noted that the quality of sports activities should be improved in schools, and the foundation for success in sports championships should be laid in schools.
The minister said 12.5 million school students should exercise throughout the year, noting that development of sports in the educational environment will promote students' involvement in other activities.
He hoped that the number of people participating in public sports will increase.
Goudarzi said based on an agreement signed between the sports and education ministries, the provincial sports organizations and sports federations are duty-bound to help the Education Ministry hold School Sports Olympiad in the best possible manner.
Speaking in the same ceremony, Esfandiar Chaharband, director general of Tehran Province’s Education Organization, said School Sports Olympiad is being held in 4,000 schools of Tehran.
He said the development of physical education will help promote the culture of sports and health in the community.
Chaharband noted that the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and sports minister have always emphasized the development of physical education.
The official pointed out that School Sports Olympiad aims to promote physical education in schools and develop public sports, hoping that such activities will be expanded through proper planning.
Chaharband noted that the education system plays a unique role in the social, moral and religious education of students.