TODAY.AZ / Sports

Baku braces for Islamic Solidarity Games

08 November 2016 [17:13] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Amina Nazarli

The fourth meeting of the Coordination Commission of Islamic Solidarity Games kicked off in Baku on November 8 to eye infrastructure, transport, and volunteering issues.

The event brought together Executive Director of the Games, Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov, second Vice President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), vice President of the National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade, ISSF Secretary General Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Nassar and Chairman of the Coordination Commission Hamad Kalkaba Malboum.

The 4th Islamic Solidarity Games will take place in Baku on May 12-22, 2017 with participation of over 5,000 athletes in 20 sports disciplines.

Azad Rahimov, addressing the event, assured that Azerbaijan will hold the Games at a high level.

Rahimov noted that less than six months left before the Games start and Azerbaijan is ready to hold this grandiose sporting event.  

“About 16 sports arenas are ready for hosting the competitions,” said Rahimov. “The Athletes Village, which meets international standards, is also ready to receive athletes.”

The minister further mentioned that the preparations for the Games run in accordance with the schedule.

“I am convinced that we will witness a grand sports event,” he said. “Azerbaijan, as a country that has held international sports events such as the First European Games and Formula 1 at a high level, will also demonstrate high level of professionalism by holding the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.”

The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational and multi-sport event involving the elite athletes of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, which is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the UN with 57 member states spread over four continents.

The decision to hold the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku was made at the eighth General Assembly of the ISSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in July 2013.

The official opening ceremony and closing of the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games will be held at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

The Games will bring together athletes from 57 countries under the slogan “Solidarity is our power”. More than 160 Azerbaijani sportsmen are expected to participate in the Games.

 The Muslim religion of all athletes is not a pre-condition for participation in the competition.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/sports/155851.html

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