Dear Mr. Ulf Mehrens President, International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)

Subject: Urgent Appeal Regarding Visa Delays for the Iranian National Wheelchair Basketball Team

Dear Mr. Mehrens,

I am writing to you with deep concern regarding the serious and unacceptable delay in the issuance of visas for members of the coaching staff of the Iranian National Wheelchair Basketball Team, with only a few days remaining until the commencement of the 2026 IWBF World Championships in Ottawa, Canada.

At this critical stage, such uncertainty places the Iranian delegation under considerable pressure and risks undermining months of preparation, commitment, and professional efforts by the athletes and coaching staff.

We fully understand that visa issuance is ultimately a matter for the relevant authorities of the host country. However, we respectfully believe that the international governing body of wheelchair basketball has a responsibility to ensure that all participating teams are afforded a fair and reasonable opportunity to attend the World Championships without discrimination or obstacles unrelated to sporting considerations.

Sport must remain a bridge between nations and a symbol of friendship, mutual respect, equality, and peace. This principle is particularly important in the field of para-sport, where the values of human dignity, inclusion, solidarity, and equal opportunity should be protected above all else.

It would be deeply regrettable if political circumstances or issues beyond the sporting arena were to prevent members of a national team from participating in a World Championship for which they have qualified and prepared.

I therefore respectfully appeal to you, in your capacity as President of the IWBF, to intervene urgently and use all appropriate channels available to the Federation to facilitate the immediate resolution of this matter and the issuance of the necessary visas for the Iranian coaching staff.

The athletes and coaches should be given the opportunity to focus exclusively on their sporting responsibilities and to represent their country with dignity and pride, just as every other participating delegation is entitled to do.

I sincerely hope that the IWBF will treat this matter with the utmost urgency and that a prompt and equitable solution will be reached before the beginning of the Championships.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to seeing the principles of fairness, inclusion, and sporting solidarity upheld in practice.

Yours sincerely,

Masoud Panahi Esfahani
Veteran Wheelchair Basketball Coach
Sports and Media Activist