Baku strengthens securty ahaed of Islamic Games

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

During the Baku 2017 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, a joyful sporting holiday, the Land of Fire will be a host for thousands of people from May 12 to 22. Providing security and stability is of high priority and the law-enforcement bodies have already switched to enhanced mode. 

Final preparations for the landmark event are underway and the Service and Trade Department of Baku city Executive Power has already enacted necessary actions in connection with the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games since May 1.

Spokesman for the Department Alabbas Bagirov told Trend that the Department staff will work in this mode until the end of May.

"The main task is to strengthen control at the entrances to the metro and exits, bus stops, places of congestion in connection with the Games," Bagirov said.

From May 1 until the end of the month, the department's employees will work in the specified places. To provide convenience for residents and visitors of the capital it is planned to stop the street trade, he noted.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry will switch to enhanced regime from May 5 to 25 to guarantee complete security for tourists and citizens of the city. 

Earlier, Head of the State Security Service, Lieutenant-General Madat Guliyev said that security will be fully ensured during the Games in Azerbaijan.

Alongside with this, Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies established headquarters and working group on cybersecurity to ensure information security and cybersecurity during the event.

Up to 3,000 athletes from 57 countries will compete in the Games to be held in 20 sports in 17 sports arenas.

The athletes from Islamic countries around the world will be representing their nations over 10 days of competition across 20 different sports which include 23 disciplines (Athletics and Para Athletics, Aquatics – Diving, Aquatics – Swimming, Aquatics – Water Polo, Basketball 3x3, Football, Gymnastics – Artistic, Gymnastics – Rhythmic, Wushu, Table Tennis, Handball, Judo and Blind Judo, Wrestling – Greco, Wrestling – Freestyle, Shooting, Tennis, Volleyball, Boxing, Zurkhaneh, Karate, Taekwondo and Weightlifting).