STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY

Baku, which is preparing for the First European Games, will host one more major international sporting event in two years - the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games. Although the decision to award Islamiada 2017 to Baku was made back in 2013, an agreement with the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) was only signed last week. With this agreement, Baku guaranteed that it would honour all commitments regarding the holding of the important tournament.

The agreement was signed by Cingiz Huseynzada, the vice-president of the Azerbaijani National Olympic Committee; Azad Rahimov, the Azerbaijani youth and sport minister, and Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the ISSF president, youth and sport minister of Saudi Arabia and the president of the Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia.

Huseynzada pointed out that the ISSF delegation familiarized itself in detail with the country's sports infrastructure. "Conditions at the sports facilities where the First European Games will be held made a good impression on the guests," Huseynzada said. He recalled that Azerbaijan had actively participated in all Islamic Solidarity Games and achieved great sporting successes in them. "Azerbaijani sportsmen view Islamiada 2017 as a serious challenge and will fight for high results," Huseynzada said.

ISSF President Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attached special importance to the attention paid to the development of sport in Azerbaijan. "Everyone knows of the great attention the Azerbaijani government pays to sport. I am very pleased with the interest your country shows in organizing Islamic Solidarity Games. The fourth Islamiada will be the biggest sporting competition of 2017. In close cooperation, we will successfully hold these games, and fans will be able to truly enjoy the competitions," he said.

The ISSF president noted that Islamic Solidarity Games spread Islamic values and strengthen brotherhood and unity.

During his visit to Baku, the prince was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. At the meeting, the prince was pleased to say that Azerbaijan is completely ready for the Islamic Solidarity Games. He also stressed that the country has established sports infrastructure at the most advanced level.

At the ceremony to sign the agreement, Azerbaijani Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rahimov spoke about projects being implemented to develop sport. He said that Azerbaijan has always been the focus of the Islamic world. Baku in 2009 was elected the capital of Islamic culture, and for the year 2018, this mission has been placed on Naxcivan. "Our country is currently preparing to hold the first ever European Games. This year we will also host the Chess World Cup, and next year the World Chess Olympiad, the European Grand Prix in the well-known motor racing series Formula 1, and in 2017 the Fourth Islamic Solidarity Games. We will use all our capabilities to organize these events at the highest level," Rahimov gave his assurances.

The Fourth Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in May 2017 before the month of Ramadan. The programme of the games will include 19 to 20 sports, most of which will be the same as the sports featuring at the First European Games. Among them one can highlight competitions in weightlifting, as well as the national sport zorxana. Islamiada athletes are to be accommodated in the Athletes Village built for the European Games.

Speaking about commitments regarding Islamiada, Rahimov said that these competitions will require less money than the First European Games. "Our commitments are related to security, transport, accommodation, food and dealing with other matters regarding athletes visiting. It is too early to talk about the budget. However, compared to other major events, the budget will not be big. Athletes will be staying in the Athletes Village. The transport costs of athletes arriving for Islamiada will be paid by the participating countries. Athletes' food will also be paid for by their own federations," Rahimov said.

He noted that more than 100 athletes will represent Azerbaijan in the games. "There is no need to obtain a licence to participate in these games. Since we will organize the Islamiada, we will try to participate in all the sports. We will also organize a cultural programme," Rahimov said.

Islamic Solidarity Games are held among members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The first games were held in Saudi Arabia in 2005. The second games were to be held in Iran in 2009, but were cancelled for several reasons. The third games were held in Indonesia in 2013.

Azerbaijan won the right to host the Islamic Solidarity Games in a vote at the eighth reporting conference of ISSF held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in July 2013.

The main slogan of Islamiada 2017, which will be attended by athletes from 57 countries, will be "Solidarity is our strength!". Following the Third Islamic Solidarity Games held in Indonesia in September-October 2013, the Azerbaijani delegation was presented with the ISSF flag.