The closing ceremony was held on Thursday at the
Oil Cultural and Sports Complex in Mahmoudabad, with senior officials, athletes
and team representatives in attendance.
The event brought together veterans and para-athletes
from the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors, competing in disciplines including
swimming, table tennis, futsal, darts, shooting and chess. More than 550
athletes, coaches, referees and officials took part.
Officials said the games aimed to promote
physical and mental health, strengthen solidarity and recognise the
contributions of veterans and employees with disabilities in the oil industry.
Speaking at the ceremony, Meysam Rafiee
Parhizkar, head of the organising committee, said veterans and para-athletes
had demonstrated their capabilities across three fronts: wartime service,
professional life in the oil industry and competitive sports.
Rafiee Parhizkar said the oil industry’s
demanding working conditions, including remote operations and high stress
levels, made investment in employee health and sports programmes essential to
sustaining productivity and long-term value creation.
Reza Khalaj, head of the Petroleum Ministry’s
national sports games and director of human resources development at the National
Petrochemical Company, said the event underscored the ministry’s commitment to
social responsibility and employee well-being.
“The success and stability the country enjoys
today are indebted to the sacrifices of veterans and their families,” Khalaj
said, adding that disability should be seen as a demonstration of resilience
rather than limitation.
Mohammad Mehdi Pourfatemi, adviser to the petroleum
minister on veterans’ affairs, also attended the ceremony, praising the
athletes and acknowledging the role of veterans’ families in supporting them
through years of hardship.
The games were hosted by the National
Petrochemical Company from Jan. 14 to Jan. 19 and featured teams from four main
Petroleum Ministry companies. Championship trophies were awarded to the top-performing
teams at the closing ceremony.