“Only three countries participate in the Russian Ninja Warriors contest, but our guests came from 16 different countries. I hope the number of foreign participants will double next season,” said Pouria Malek-Abadi.
Malek-Abadi emphasized that Qahreman is a testament to Iran being the cradle of civilization, adding that it is an international TV program. "We must convey our message to the world through sports. We organized entertaining trips for our guests, and they saw that there is no war or chaos in Iran – everyone here is living peacefully," he said.
Requests from Iraq and Afghanistan
Speaking about the participation of athletes from 17 countries, Malek-Abadi mentioned that champions from countries like Brazil, Poland, India, Russia, Germany, Italy, and Ireland are among the competitors. These athletes are known for their expertise in Parkour and rock climbing. The competition is held in European countries and has turned into a truly thrilling event.
“The production began 5 months ago. We faced numerous challenges working with embassies to secure the presence of foreign guests. The participants also had to attend the Russian Ninja contest, so we coordinated with the producers of that program as well. When they arrived in Iran, a 15-member team was responsible for ensuring their safety,” Malek-Abadi explained.
He further noted that the producers have plans for international broadcasting of the show and are working on translations.
He added: “Iraq and Afghanistan have approached us with requests to produce the program for their channels.”
Baqeri, another key figure in the production, highlighted that just constructing the set took five months, with every element designed with millimeter precision. "Even a few centimeters of error could cause injury to the athletes,” he remarked.
Differences from ‘Iranian Strongest Men’
Discussing the differences between Qahreman and Iranian Strongest Men, Malek-Abadi said: “In Iranian Strongest Men, strength and power were key. But in Qahreman, skill, technique, and speed are crucial. The athletes in this program are either rock climbers or stone climbers. They need to be strategic and calculated to pass the stages successfully. Average individuals cannot participate in this program. It is an endurance competition, and participants must complete a course four times within two hours.”
He also mentioned that three final champions will be crowned, with the first, second, and third-place winners receiving $7,000, $2,375, and $1,187, respectively.
“Nine episodes have aired so far, and the show will continue until October. It’s a 30-episode program, but it will pause broadcasting during Arbaeen,” he added.
The competition, directed by Pouria Malek-Abadi and hosted by Iman Ghiasi, consists of 30 episodes, each 60 minutes long. One of the most notable features of the program, produced under the slogan “Become the World’s Champion,” is that both foreign and Iranian participants compete in a 6,000 square meter area.
NOURNEWS