Azerbaijan to fully ensure security during Islamic Games

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Security will be fully ensured during the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Azerbaijan, Head of the State Security Service, Lieutenant-General Madat Guliyev told reporters in Baku on May 3.

Stressing that the Islamic Solidarity Games are a state-scale event, Guliyev said, “This is a very important event for our state.”

“As you know, the Azerbaijani president declared 2017 ‘The Year of Islamic Solidarity’, and as part of this, the Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Azerbaijan,” noted the official. “Naturally, the security of this event will be fully ensured.”

Earlier, Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rahimov ensured that food, transportation services and the safety of guests will be provided at the highest level during the competitions.

Up to 3,000 athletes from 57 countries will compete in the Games scheduled for May 12-22. The competitions will 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).

Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku was awarded the Games at the General Assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Jeddah in July 2013.