Paint-ball popularity in Iran

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-20-2007 11:08

Paintball has developed into a worldwide phenomenon. Players hunt opponents, take aim, and splatter them with paint-filled “bullets” in guerilla-style, faux warfare. (File photo)

Paint ball fever has hit Iran. The new-age sport from the United States is rapidly gaining popularity among young people in Iran and the number of Iranian paint ball players, teams and fans has risen sharply.

Paint ball is a high-intensity, strategic, team game. Players wear protective clothing and do battle with compressed air guns firing capsules that splatter colored paint on impact.

A game of paint ball usually involves two opposing teams, seeking to eliminate all of the other team's players.

There are nearly thirty professional paint ball teams in Iran. Tournaments are held annually.

Currently Iran's greatest paint ball team, Datis, has won all tournaments held in Iran since they began in 2005, as well as many championships held in Asia.

A Datis team member, Babak Esmaeili said "The team (Datis) was organized in 2005. We have been playing paint ball for two years and the team has had pretty good results in actual country wide tournaments and international tournaments."

Iran has held annual paint ball tournaments since 2001. Each year the number of participating teams grows.