Iranians mourn loss of landmark sports stadium destroyed in US-Israeli March strikes

Iranians continue to mourn the destruction of Tehran's Azadi Sports Complex nearly a month after U.S.-Israeli strikes leveled the landmark on March 5, leaving a 12,000-seat stadium and adjoining facilities in ruins.

The attack wiped out the dormitory and new building of Iran's Cycling Federation, a main swimming pool, and parts of the Rowing Federation. Built for the 1974 Asian Games, the complex had for decades hosted football, wrestling, volleyball and basketball matches, becoming a fixture of national sporting life.

As of early April, the site still lies in rubble. Athletes and sports officials say the devastation has left a void in the country's collective memory.

"All of Iran's hearts ache over this incident. This was a place that everyone used. All the major basketball and volleyball games were held here, and we have so many memories," said Ashkan Jafari, a national basketball player.

"All my youthful memories are tied to this place. Seeing it like this truly broke my heart. Witnessing this destruction is unbearable, and it is an unforgivable war crime," said Bijan Taheri, former national football player and Coach.

Five days after the March 5 stadium attack, Tehran city council's cultural heritage committee reported that Iran's wider cultural fabric had also suffered.

Ahmad Alavi, head of the committee, said at least 120 museums, historical buildings, and cultural sites across the country were directly struck, sustaining varying degrees of damage.

One month on, the ruins stand as a visible reminder of the scale of loss and the enduring emotional impact. For residents and athletes, the destruction of Azadi is not just about bricks and mortar, but about the erasure of a venue tied to generations of national pride, alongside damage to cultural institutions that form part of Iran's identity.

Iranians mourn loss of landmark sports stadium destroyed in US-Israeli March strikes

Iranians mourn loss of landmark sports stadium destroyed in US-Israeli March strikes

Iranians mourn loss of landmark sports stadium destroyed in US-Israeli March strikes

Iranians mourn loss of landmark sports stadium destroyed in US-Israeli March strikes

Tanzania is sending more than 30 enterprises and government institutions to the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled for Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, as the country seeks to boost exports and expand access to the Chinese market.

The delegation was introduced at a farewell ceremony organized by the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, with over a hundred people from various sectors in Tanzania attended the gathering. Some participating exhibitors displayed their products, including coffee, tea and honey.

Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said that since May 1 this year, China has implemented zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, the first full-coverage zero-tariff arrangement for Africa among major global economies, with no quota limits and no political conditions attached. The arrangement is expected to give a strong boost to cooperation among Global South countries.

Jonathan Nkwabi, the Director of Trade Promotion at the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), also spoke at the event and expressed confidence in the CIIE as a crucial platform for Tanzanian exporters.

"We believe this initiative, coupled with platforms such as the CIIE, provides an important opportunity to expand Tanzania's export and strengthen commercial cooperation between our two countries," said Nkwabi.

The exhibitors matched that excitement, saying they see the CIIE as a vital gateway to the global market. Many are bringing specialty agricultural products in a bid to connect with international buyers and broaden their commercial reach.

"This time we're going with avocados and we're also going with the coffee, green coffee and cocoa beans. And we know the CIIE is a global thing and it's very big, so we know for sure that's the place we can go and get connected to a lot of business people," said an exhibitor.

"It's a good opportunity because it's a big event. It comprises different people from different countries. They come to China and it's a chance for us to showcase what we produce as a country from Tanzania to China and to the rest of the world," said another exhibitor.

A total of 162 countries, regions and international organizations will take part in this year's CIIE, with 4,142 overseas companies exhibiting. The overall exhibition area for companies will exceed 370,000 square meters.

Launched in 2018 as the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports, the CIIE was designed to expand China's opening-up and turn its vast market into a shared opportunity for the world.

Over 30 Tanzanian enterprises to set off for China International Import Expo