Tehran: Spectator Sports
Modern and traditional, secular and religious, rich and poor
Tehran was the first city in the Middle East to host the Asian Games. The 7th Asian Summer Games in 1974 was held with the participation of 2,363 athletes and officials from 25 countries. Tehran is also the site of Iran's national football stadium on Azadi Sport Complex with 100,000 seating capacity. Many of the top matches of Iran's Premier League are held here. In 2005, FIFA ordered Iran to limit spectators allowed into Azadi stadium because of a fatal crush and inadequate safety procedures. Other stadiums in Tehran are Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium, Takhti Stadium, and Shahid Shirudi Stadium, among others
