FIRST IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD

Not only was the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games a huge success but also a majestic victory of Azerbaijan. The magnificent organization of the tournament enriched the history of sports in Azerbaijan. Once again, it was proved that Azerbaijan could hold any competition at the highest possible level.

The largest and most prestigious tournament in the Islamic world has become the best organized event among the previous Islamiads. Each of the sixteen sport arenas of Baku was prepared for the competition at the highest level, including other necessary organizational measures.

More than 3,000 athletes from 54 countries, more than 1,000 official teams and technical personnel participated in the Solidarity Games hosted by Azerbaijan. It was a real record, as none of the Games has hosted so many participants so far. More than 1,000 press representatives were accredited.

The athletes competed for 269 sets of medals in 24 sport competitions. 435 sportsmen represented Azerbaijan at these Games.

The ten-day tournament once again confirmed the high efficiency of preparations undertaken by the Organizing Committee. Even the smallest questions were solved with jewelry precision In these competitions, which covered hundreds of operations and services in terms of organization and preparation. All sports complexes functioned perfectly, the created conditions completely satisfied both the athletes and the spectators. The equipment for the closing ceremony organized just 36 hours before the event, as well as the involvement of more than 5,000 specialists, technical personnel and the cast from 31 countries prove the intense efforts of the Organizing Committee.

The plot of the closing ceremony was distinguished by its originality. Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Islamic Solidarity Games said: "Holding the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games in our country is a sign of respect and support for the entire Islamic world by Azerbaijan and its people. I am sure that the sportsmen representing more than 50 countries and the visitors of our capital will retain in their hearts the good memories associated with our country. The Azerbaijani people once again demonstrated their hospitality and cordiality. Azerbaijan has demonstrated that it was a big sporting state. Our national team was the first in the overall ranking. I am proud of this historic victory and sincerely congratulate the Azerbaijani people! An even greater victory is the triumph of the solidarity and unity of the Islamic world that we have achieved these days. Let's all keep this unity and strengthen the Islamic solidarity. May Allah bless all Muslims!".

The presence of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in the sports arenas and the awarding of medals to the winners personally increased the interest in the Games. Another significant moment of Baku-2017 for Azerbaijan was the propaganda of our republic on international arena. The Games were an effective means of getting to know the country, further enhancing its image. Broadcasting of the competitions on television in more than 30 countries facilitated familiarization with Azerbaijan throughout the Islamic world.

Any competition is important not only for its organization but for the outcome. In this regard, the Azerbaijani team, which defended the sporting honour of our country, is worthy of all praise. During 11 days, the representatives of 40 teams became owners of 886 medals - 269 gold, 267 silver, 350 bronze. 162 of these medals were taken by Azerbaijani athletes - 75 gold, 50 silver, and 37 bronze. Despite the lag in the total number of medals from Turkey (195 medals), the Azerbaijani team won the medal title of the Islamabad, as the Turkish squad won four gold medals less. Thus, for the first time in history, Azerbaijan won the title of the strongest in the multi-sport event. Before that, the best result was the second place in the European games.

The Azerbaijani team also continued the tradition of Islamiad, according to which the host country becomes the first in the medal standings. So, at the 2005 Games the winner was Saudi Arabia, in 2013 - Indonesia.

But Azerbaijan with 75 gold medals, set an absolute record of the Islamiad. The national team of Turkey has also set the record with 195 medals. The third runner of the tournament by the number of won medals (98) was Iran. The fourth and fifth places were taken by Uzbekistan (63 medals) and Bahrain (21), respectively.

Our judokas brought the largest pool of medals (26) to the Azerbaijani national team: 11 gold, 12 silver and 3 bronze medals. The contribution of our wrestlers and athletes was also significant: 23 medals (12-6-5) and 18 medals (10-4-4), respectively.

Azerbaijani gymnasts enriched the national team with 12 medals (5-5-2), artistic gymnasts - with 8 medals (4-2-2). In the shooting, we won 10 medals (6-3-1), while Ruslan Lunev won four gold medals in individual competitions and one in team competitions.

Taekwondo players brought 9 medals (6-2-1) to the common treasury, karatekas - 10 (5-2-3), boxers - 7 (3-3-1).

Competitions in the Palace of Water Sports brought into the treasury 12 more medals, 6 of them won by our swimmers and jumpers.

In particular, our swimmer Mikhail Shemberov won four gold medals in different disciplines; the women's swimming team added two more bronzes. In diving, the Azerbaijani national team won two gold, silver and bronze medals.

In the zorkhana competitions, we won 7 medals (1-3-3), in weightlifting - 4 (1-0-3), wushu - 6 (0-3-3), table tennis - 4 (0-2-2 ). Especially it is worth noting the success of the Azerbaijani national teams in team sports.

In particular, Azerbaijan's national football team, men's and women's 3x3 basketball teams, women's volleyball and handball teams became the champions of the Islamiad. Our men's national volleyball team was awarded a silver medal.

In general, the awards opened a new page in the history of national sports. Becoming the winner of the Games, the Azerbaijani U-23 national football team achieved the greatest success in the history of domestic football. Also, for the first time, we have such a big number of medals in swimming, basketball, table tennis and handball.

At the meeting with the winners and participants of the Islamic Solidarity Games Baku-2017, President Aliyev noted that the athletes achieved a historic result. "I sincerely congratulate all athletes, coaches, sports specialists with a brilliant victory. I wish you new victories, new successes. With 75 gold, 50 silver and 37 bronze medals awarded at these Games, our athletes became the first in the team event. This is a great historic victory. Given the professional participation of more than 50 countries in the Games, the significance of this victory certainly increases. Of course, we all know well that this victory was not accidental, since our athletes have already shown their strength at various international competitions, world championships, European and Olympic Games. Azerbaijan is known as a strong sporting state on a global scale. Our recent achievements also allow us to say that this victory is not accidental. In 2015, at the European Games, Azerbaijani athletes won 56 medals and were able to take the second place in the team event. Last year at the Summer Olympics, the number of medals reached 18. This is the highest figure in the history of our participation in the Olympic Games, and Azerbaijan ranked 14^th in terms of medals, 7^th among the European countries, and the first among the Muslim countries. It means our victory has a very strong foundation and that the Azerbaijani sport and the Azerbaijani state are developing. These Games also show that the thoughtful policy pursued in Azerbaijan is bearing fruit in the field of sports. The development of sport is one of the priorities of Azerbaijan’s state policy. The steps and policy taken in recent years in this direction allowed us to achieve such a wonderful result".

Ilham Aliyev also stressed the important role of the Organizing Committee in the conduct of the Games. "The Organizing Committee under the leadership of Mehriban Aliyeva did a great job, the entire preparation process was in the center of her attention. The Organizing Committee took all the necessary measures up to slightest details, so that good conditions were created for both the athletes and the guests. I highly appreciate the work of the Organizing Committee. This is already a natural phenomenon, since this is the third prestigious international competition under the leadership of Mehriban: the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and the European Games in 2015. These were the first Games, the standards of the Games were not yet set, and we had only two years to prepare. And this time we held the Islamic Solidarity Games. Of course, this shows that the Organizing Committee is worthy, has honorably fulfilled its official duty. I want to express my gratitude to all the members of the Organizing Committee. "

At the same time, I. Aliyev paid attention to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Islamiad: "At the opening ceremony, we demonstrated the progressiveness of Islam. They showed that Islam is a religion of science, culture, peace, mercy. We showed the talented representatives of the Azerbaijani people. We demonstrated to the entire Islamic world, the entire planet, a rich ancient history, the culture of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the closing ceremony also showed Azerbaijan as a progressive, modern country. This unique unity today turns Azerbaijan into an irreplaceable country on a global scale. We are committed to our national, religious values; we will protect and cherish them. At the same time, we are open to the world, modern, developing. These are important factors today and shape the identity of the modern Azerbaijan state. We are building a modern state on deep national and spiritual roots, a state that every patriot is proud of today.

At the heart of our success lies the love of the Motherland. This is the main factor leading our athletes to victory. We saw how happy the athletes were, our people rejoiced. We are united by our beliefs, history, views on the future. Today Azerbaijan is a country that deserves great respect on a global scale. Azerbaijan is a country worthy of great sympathy in the Muslim world."

The President stressed that the Games of Islamic Solidarity demonstrated a new approach and standards. "Of course, this is a sign of our respect for the guests, a manifestation of responsibility. At the same time, it generally shows our policy, because we want any event in Azerbaijan to be held at the highest level. Therefore, our country is developing, and all foreign guests visiting Baku admire our city.

Azerbaijan is a country that connects the Muslim world with the Western world. Imagine, for two years in one country, in one city, European and Islamic games are held. More than 100 countries participate in these Games. No other country can boast of such an achievement. We are rightfully proud that we were able to accomplish this. Our country is known in the Western and Muslim worlds as a reliable partner, a friendly and powerful state," said Mr. Aliyev.

Baku-2017 marked the history of the Islamiad as a grandiose holiday of sports. The whole world, including the Islamic world, once again witnessed the excellent organizational skills and hospitality of Azerbaijan. Baku bids farewell to the athletes of the Islamic world and thanks them for their excellent performance. The next Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Turkey in 2022. See you in Istanbul...