BREAKING NEWS

Iran becomes 100th member of International Surfing federation

LONDON - Six years after an Irishwoman rode the waves off Iran's coast to the bemusement of locals the country has become the 100th member of the International Surfing Association (ISA) federation.
Easkey Britton's visit to the country in 2010 inspired a local surf movement on Iran's Baluchestan coast, so much so that the Iran Surfing Federation was formed this year and even women are participating, fully covered and wearing hijabs.
The unlikely rise of the sport in the Islamic country has been welcomed by the ISA who describe Iran's membership as a landmark moment in the global growth of surfing.
"This decision is rich in symbolism for us, both in terms of the milestone of recognizing the ISA's 100th member, but also in showing surfing's ability to help bring unity through sport," ISA president Fernando Aguerre said in a statement.