Zoroastrians Abroad
Cheering at the Games
"Community, sportsmanship, teamwork, strength, character, fellowship… were the hallmark of the 13th Zoroastrian Games,” notes an update on their website. Held at Toronto’s York University campus from June 30-July 4, 2012, the event had over 265 participants, "the largest ever athlete turnout, with many participating for the first time in the Games,” noted a report by Daraius Bharucha, co-chair of the organizing committee and president of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario that hosted the Games.
Participants engrossed in ball hockey, basket ball and swimming
Whilst most competitors were from North America, there were some who had come from Iran, India, Pakistan, France, Germany, Spain and UK. Athletes ranged in age from seven to 87-year-old Jehangir Behboodi who earned the respect of his juniors for not only did he do the 100 m run, he also did the relay and the torch run, as reported on Facebook. "It was evident that the Zarathushti spirit transcends age and country affiliations. Non-winners were cheered just as heartily as athletes who won, so much so, that professional referees at the Games commented that they had never seen such camaraderie in any other events where they officiate,” commented Bharucha. Each event had spectators of all ages who came out in droves to cheer family and friends.
In the team games that included basketball and volley ball, ball hockey was introduced by the host committee to bring in the Canadian flavor. The Games also included a social service component where athletes and spectators were encouraged to register themselves for the ‘One Match’ program which is a registry of potential bone marrow donors maintained by the Canadian Blood Services.
The evening social events that accorded opportunities for interaction were the disco night at the Underground at York University and the celebration of Canada Day where participants had a chance to walk around the city and view the fireworks on display. The Gala Banquet that was attended by 475 individuals was an experience in fine dining and dancing with entertainment from the Toronto Argonauts cheerleading team and a DJ playing popular English and Iranian tunes. At the Gala Banquet, ZSO celebrated the silver jubilee of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America with its president Bomi Patel cutting the specially designed cake bearing a farohar.
Evening Gala Banquet celebration with Bomi Patel cutting the cake
Photo: Khushnum Bhandari
Photo: Khushnum Bhandari
"At the closing ceremony it was an oft-repeated sentiment that these Games had truly energized the Zarathushti community, especially in Toronto, and especially the younger population… Many folk were heard saying that they had such a good time that they were going to start planning on attending the next Games in Los Angeles in 2014… The fact that there were over 120 local volunteers demonstrated that the spirit of giving to the community is alive and well,” remarked Bharucha. Working with Bharucha on the organizing committee were co-chair Niaz Kasravi, vice chair Kevin Mancherjee, and other heads and coordinators: Cambeez Mulla, Dinshaw Bharucha, Dilnaaz Bharucha, Phiroze Dotiwalla, Jimmy Kershaw, Mehroo Chothia, Mickie Katgara, Zaheer Bulsara, Morvarid Fereidooni, Farhad Bulsara, Anahita Ogra, Dinaz Dotiwalla, Kushru Chothia, Mashya Amroliwalla, Ferozshah Ogra, Behram Jam, Yohan Gazdar, Cyrus Khory, Bomi Tamboli, Fiona Engineer, Mahiyar Panthaky, Sharoukh Unwalla and Zara Martinez.
Winning the gold in the ball hockey event was the Dada G Leafs team comprising Shireen Irani, Jimmy Bhesania, Yazad Tafti, Behram and Rayomond Antia, Meher Bharucha and Danny Sidhwa. The basketball winners in the adult category were the Vesta team of Kaivan Khoshroo, Shahab Namiraniyan, Kourosh Dinyarian, Manoucehr Hakhmaneshi, Farzin Jahani, Jehangir Namdarian and Shapour Foroudi. The youth winners were the ZAQ Warriors team of Kai and Ryan Washer, Bijan Shariari, Armita and Vesta Behboodi, Jehan Iranpur and Sattwic Shukla. The Simorgh team emerged winners in the volley ball event.
(center) passing the torch
track event and rapt spectators; (from left) Cambeez Mulla, Soroosh Amanat, Arsham Dianat and Daraius Bharucha; (right) three generations of Behboodi athletes
The individual winners in the tennis events were Autoosa Behroozi in the women’s category and Armand Behroozi in the men’s category. In table tennis, Farhad Nagarwalla won the gold. Guive Sassanfar emerged the best swimmer in the men’s category and Nooshin Shahlari in the women’s category. The other winners in the individual events were Zal Nagarwala, Pana Jamtorki, Shervin Dehmoubed, Fiona and Kawas Aga and Armhita Jamtorki.
In the track events, Vaspan Gutta emerged the strongest runner winning the 100 and 400 m men’s event, with Yazad Tafti winning the 1500 m event. Among women, Niki Samya came first in 400 m and 1500 m with Shireen Irani coming first in 100 m. In the 45+ age group, Mashid Farvadin was the best female and Jehangir Mehrkhodavandi the best male. In the younger age groups Kian Izedian, Pegah Jamtorki, Shervin Dehmoubed, Tara Jam and Ruzbeh Irani emerged winners.
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