http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-us-iran&prov=ap&type=lgns

It would be a wonderful thing if badminton is the spark for renewed international relations between US and Iran.

..aahh, looks like Pres. BO's administration is really broadening the interest of badminton in the U.S. There was another minor news that the U.S. govt. would sponsor the MD pair of Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach (yes, they are back together as a pair and will be competing this yr), should they reach at least the top 20 MD ranking in the world. ;)

On that note, looking fw to the Iranian National players visiting the U.S., come July, for the U.S. Open.:cool:

From gunboat diplomacy to badminton diplomacy, we have come a long way ;)

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1084243

Wow political badminton, nobody like the US to do such a thing

Wow political badminton, nobody like the US to do such a thing

remember ping pong diplomacy back in the 1970's

:) Good stuff. Hope something good will come out of this.

BWF should hop on the bandwagon at once and start to promote world peace with badminton.

:) Good stuff. Hope something good will come out of this.

BWF should hop on the bandwagon at once and start to promote world peace with badminton.
Im in.Peace No War!

Im in.Peace No War!

Wonder why Women's team ?

Masculinity could be violate?:o

Meh. i hope for the best. I also wonder if Tony Gunawun and Howard Bach can make it to the top 20? this would be an awesome day.

BO? i think we should stick to Obama....:o

Wow political badminton, nobody like the US to do such a thing
remember ping pong diplomacy back in the 1970's
..they've been doing this sort of stuff before (in 2007 with the Wrestling team).
...
BO? i think we should stick to Obama....:o
..YES jymbalaya CAN, TOO!!..
Obama, Barry Obama, BO, No Shock Barack, No Drama Obama, Obama-rama, Mr. Yes We Can....sure, why not..;)

..they've been doing this sort of stuff before (in 2007 with the Wrestling team).

..YES jymbalaya CAN, TOO!!..
Obama, Barry Obama, BO, No Shock Barack, No Drama Obama, Obama-rama, Mr. Yes We Can....sure, why not..;)
in canada, we say ' Can Do' ! (aka Candu:D http://www.canducanada.ca/)

..if the U.S. ladies will need to wear burqas, long skirts/abayas or veils to cover their bodies, while they play..I remember in one of the World Championships tourneys, there were some women players who wore those...:eek:

*cooler, in Malaya/Indonesian language, the word "Candu" means an "addict" or "opium"..:p

..burqas being worn during the 2006 WC..From the Iranian team..

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36290
http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24910

http://cimg2.163.com/photo/0005/2006-09-18/2RB3JO1D04QJ0005.jpg

the US team will not be playing in Iran. Looks like Iran did not have time to process the visas.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29010526/

the US team will not be playing in Iran. Looks like Iran did not have time to process the visas.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29010526/

Yepp..

http://arabia.ndtv.com:80/Story.aspx?pageheader=news&sub_category=&ID=NEWEN20090082589

One can wonder why US was so late with applying for visas?!? Why do it from dubai and not from US ??

I think US has rather strict policies for VISA control etc (after 9/11), so not being in time when applying for other countries visa seems a bit ignorant, from an outside perspective...

Kind of a setback for "badminton-diplomacy" :(

/Twobeer

Yepp..

http://arabia.ndtv.com:80/Story.aspx?pageheader=news&sub_category=&ID=NEWEN20090082589

One can wonder why US was so late with applying for visas?!? Why do it from dubai and not from US ??

I think US has rather strict policies for VISA control etc (after 9/11), so not being in time when applying for other countries visa seems a bit ignorant, from an outside perspective...

Kind of a setback for "badminton-diplomacy" :(

/Twobeer

Well..this info that I got....
US Badminton got invitation from Iran Badminton in a short period of time..about a month US applied the visa and Iran Badminton did everything they could...I had been told that they needed pick up visa in Dubai ( I did not know how it works)...so it was not about being in time....

Well..this info that I got....
US Badminton got invitation from Iran Badminton in a short period of time..about a month US applied the visa and Iran Badminton did everything they could...I had been told that they needed pick up visa in Dubai ( I did not know how it works)...so it was not about being in time....

I have never heard about a situation where a visa could not be issued at the embassy/consulate in the country of origin of the traveler.. Sounds "fishy".. But US-Iran relationships are not my main area of expertise :D :D

/Twobeer

I have never heard about a situation where a visa could not be issued at the embassy/consulate in the country of origin of the traveler.. Sounds "fishy".. But US-Iran relationships are not my main area of expertise :D :D

/Twobeer
There's no Iranian Embassy in the United States.
Iranian affairs in the US are handled by Pakistan.

Similarly, there's no US Embassy in Iran.
US affairs in Iran are handled by Switzerland.

The US and Iran ceased mutual diplomatic relations in 1980.
So, to visit Iran, US nationals must apply for a visa at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC.

----------------
PS: In New Yok, Iran maintains a permanent mission to the UN.
But that mission does not and may not handle consular affairs.

There's no Iranian Embassy in the United States.
Iranian affairs in the US are handled by Pakistan.

Similarly, there's no US Embassy in Iran.
US affairs in Iran are handled by Switzerland.

The US and Iran ceased mutual diplomatic relations in 1980.
So, to visit Iran, US nationals must apply for a visa at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC.

----------------
PS: In New Yok, Iran maintains a permanent mission to the UN.
But that mission does not and may not handle consular affairs.

So why go to Dubai, why not go through the "normal" procedures trough the pakistanian embassyi Washington?!? I am confused :-)

/Twobeer

P.S. The simple reason may be the great shopping in Dubai :D :D D.S.

That's unfortunate news.

The visas being issued out of Dubai does sound weird.
Was the US team already in Dubai? Acclimatisation or reducing jet lag perhaps?

In any case it sounds as though the good intentions of the Iranian and US badminton federations have been scuppered by the Iranian politicians.

That fist is staying clenched....for now.

So why go to Dubai, why not go through the "normal" procedures trough the pakistanian embassyi Washington?!? I am confused :-)

/Twobeer

P.S. The simple reason may be the great shopping in Dubai :D :D D.S.
US Team just arrived this afternoon...I will know more from Paisan....
There is a reason why they had to pick up the visa in Dubai.....wait till I find out more...

..the U.S. team can try their luck, again, next yr??..Look fw to Iranian team in the U.S. Open.:cool:

I just got full info from US badminton Official:

Basically US team had been told that Visa has been approved and they can pick it up in Washington...
US Team went to DC by flying United then same plane to Dubai as well...apparently there is iranian consulat inside SWISS embassy but Iranian did not work on Thursday and Friday..so they emailed US team to pick it up on Dubai...once they got in Dubai..they had been told to come to Iranian embassy to pick it up...once they arrived there on Monday..Iran told them to pick it on next day...rest assured with the approval...so what happened the next day befor picking up, they asked US$ 1700 ( for 12 passports) for visa fee..since US team did noto bring the money, US embassy did...BUT again there was no visa..so they called up Iranian Sport Miniter and they again assured that Iranian government had approved them..Guess what!! on next day, US team were told that No Visa for them.....US team packed and US embassy arranged and changed their ticket back to US.....thats very bad arrangement ...

...don't they know there will be some visa fee involved. I mean no one brought any money, even for $1700 (i know that's quite a bit)???...yikes!!!..:eek:
From what i've read, there was definitely some major miscommunication & misunderstanding from all parties....:(

I just got full info from US badminton Official:

Basically US team had been told that Visa has been approved and they can pick it up in Washington...
US Team went to DC by flying United then same plane to Dubai as well...apparently there is iranian consulat inside SWISS embassy but Iranian did not work on Thursday and Friday..so they emailed US team to pick it up on Dubai...once they got in Dubai..they had been told to come to Iranian embassy to pick it up...once they arrived there on Monday..Iran told them to pick it on next day...rest assured with the approval...so what happened the next day befor picking up, they asked US$ 1700 ( for 12 passports) for visa fee..since US team did noto bring the money, US embassy did...BUT again there was no visa..so they called up Iranian Sport Miniter and they again assured that Iranian government had approved them..Guess what!! on next day, US team were told that No Visa for them.....US team packed and US embassy arranged and changed their ticket back to US.....thats very bad arrangement ...
If this is in DC, the Iranian desk is within the Pakistani Embassy.
As far as I know, the Swiss represent the US in Iran - and not the other way around.

If this is in DC, the Iranian desk is within the Pakistani Embassy.
As far as I know, the Swiss represent the US in Iran - and not the other way around.
I do not know for sure..but thats what I had been told...there are 2 people and work inside Swiss embassy......

US team officials are being ask for some interviews, from MSNBC, NBC, CNN but they prefer to stay low profile...

US team officials are being ask for some interviews, from MSNBC, NBC, CNN but they prefer to stay low profile...

When you get a door slammed in your face, you tend to lie low for a while :D

..for more on the U.S. team's cancellation to play in Iran, you can read here:
http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65601&page=3

I just got full info from US badminton Official:

Basically US team had been told that Visa has been approved and they can pick it up in Washington...
US Team went to DC by flying United then same plane to Dubai as well...apparently there is iranian consulat inside SWISS embassy but Iranian did not work on Thursday and Friday..so they emailed US team to pick it up on Dubai...once they got in Dubai..they had been told to come to Iranian embassy to pick it up...once they arrived there on Monday..Iran told them to pick it on next day...rest assured with the approval...so what happened the next day befor picking up, they asked US$ 1700 ( for 12 passports) for visa fee..since US team did noto bring the money, US embassy did...BUT again there was no visa..so they called up Iranian Sport Miniter and they again assured that Iranian government had approved them..Guess what!! on next day, US team were told that No Visa for them.....US team packed and US embassy arranged and changed their ticket back to US.....thats very bad arrangement ...
How was the team picked? Were there points that could be earned for worlds? Why send a jr.team who would probably be out in the first rounds, if it was funded by the USOC send players who could win and could use the points? I asked USA Badminton how was the team selected and the answer was " Could you please give me your name and membership number." What kind of an answer was that coming from the President (Dan Cloppas) of USA Badminton?