Brig Gen Sabour (Chief of the the I.R. Iranian Delegation to CISM) asked CISM Secretary General Col van Meurs to assist by setting up an orienteering trainings course for the Armed Forces of Iran. Because we had successfully arranged a course for the 5 Gulf States in 2006 President TC Orienteering Ltcol Harold Oestbije asked retired Major Ton de Vaan and Ltcol Anne Heikoop to fix this interesting job.

There are 2  O map (Chitgar park en Lavizan) close to the big city Tehran, hilly and steep terrain, with nice contours and a lot of re-entrants, paths and a good runnability

We first had some days preparation. After an official opening ceremony at 12 April we started with this 6 day conference for 30 students. We arranged every day theoretical (O-analysis and being a coach/rough & fine O/course planning/training methods) and practical (blank map/post setting/following contours/route choice with time keeping/relay with oro map/memo training) lectures and the students had to do some home-work.

It was organised in such a way that there was a lot of interaction and exercises. The military students were eager to learn, very enthusiastic, friendly and sport minded.

We had a good co-operation with the first responsible Col Nader Zarbalizadeh, interpreters, security guide and drivers and the hosting Policy Academy.

Also we had some time for sightseeing and visit old palaces, monuments, mosques, the bazaar and the surrounding mountains of Tehran.

And last but not least we met a lot of friendly people during this 2 weeks