Minister: World’s attention to focus on Azerbaijan tomorrow

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Baku will witness a grandiose event tomorrow and attention of the whole world will focus on Azerbaijan, said Azad Rahimov.

Azerbaijan’s Youth and Sports Minister, CEO of the Operations Committee of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games Rahimov made the remarks at a press conference in Baku on May 11.

The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games will officially kick off with a grand opening ceremony on May 12 and last until May 22. Over 3,000 athletes will compete in Azerbaijan’s capital, on 16 sports grounds in 20 kinds of sports – 17 Olympic and three non-Olympic.

The minister noted that the Islamic Solidarity Games is not just a sporting event, but an event that will bring together nations that speak the same language.

“Unfortunately, Sudan, Libya and Kuwait will not participate in the Games; this disappointed us,” said Rahimov, adding that meanwhile, the participation of more than 3,000 athletes from 54 countries is great.

The Islamic Solidarity Games will become a demonstration of peace and unity, added the minister.

The minister further mentioned that representatives of 46 countries, who are participating in the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, have already arrived in Azerbaijan and have been accommodated in the Athletes Village.

“The athletes from eight more countries are expected to arrive today,” he added.

Rahimov also informed that Azerbaijan doesn’t pay for arrival of athletes to the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.

Noting that accommodation and food in the Athletes Village cost $50 per day for each athlete, the minister said that Azerbaijan only helped the countries that applied regarding accommodation and food for their athletes during the Games in Baku.