The flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran was flown at half-mast at the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees. This measure was taken as a sign of mourning for the helicopter accident in which the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, along with Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iran's Foreign Minister, Malek Rahmati, the Governor General of East Azerbaijan, Alhashem, the provincial representative of the Supreme Leader, and the flight crew were killed.

"The National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on behalf of the Iranian sports community, extends its condolences to the nation, the families of the officials who perished on the flight, the Supreme Leader and all the hard-working members of the government cabinet," said the Olympic Committee statement.

Kioumars Hashemi, Iran's Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, sent a message of condolence for the president's death. "I wish the martyrs God's pleasure, the survivors peace and patience, and the Iranian people solidarity and progress. May God rest their souls".

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi made a "hard landing" on Sunday during a visit to the northwest of the country, state television reported, resulting in the death of the Iranian leader.

In honour of the president, who died a few days ago,the National Olympic Committee of Iran (NOCI) has named its sports delegation for the 2024 Paris Olympics "Khadem-ol Reza".

The NOCI executive committee was due to decide on the name of its Olympic delegation on 21 May, but the meeting was postponed to next week following the martyrdom of President Raisi and his entourage, IRNA reported on Monday.

The name was chosen to commemorate the achievements of President Raisi, Mahmoud Khosravi-Vafa, head of the NOCI, told a sports programme on Iran's Channel 3 television.

The Asian country, which has declared five days of mourning for the president's death, has so far secured 34 quotas for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which will be held from 26 July to 11 August 2024.