Tehran, the capital of Iran, played host to 3,010 athletes coming from 25 countries/NOCs, the highest number of participants since the inception of the Games.

First, the host country Indonesia, refused to permit the participation of Israel and the Republic of China (Taiwan) due to political and religious issues.

[3][4] In 1970, South Korea dropped its plan to host the Games due to a national security crisis; however, the main reason was the financial crisis, forcing the previous host Thailand to administer the Games again in Bangkok using funds transferred from South Korea.

The responsibility of organising the Seventh Asian Games was assigned to a special committee headed by Amir Abbas Hoveida, then Prime Minister of Iran.

The stadium was designed by Abdolaziz Farmanfarmaian and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and rupees 100,000 persons were required for the full construction, which was completed on 1 April 1971.

The stadium was named forAryamehr, meaning the light of Aryans, in reference to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, then king of Iran.

The list of the guests included— Shah of Iran Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi, then Prime Minister of Iran Amir Abbas Hoveida, cabinet members of Iranian Government, President of Israel Ephraim Katzir, President of South Korea Park Chung Hee, King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, diplomatic corps and representatives of participating Asian NOCs.

The Arab nations, Pakistan, China and North Korea refused to play with Israel in tennis, fencing, basketball and football.