The fifth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games kicked off Tuesday in Konya, Turkey. In this report, here is the story of the establishment of this course and its important role in improving Islamic solidarity and strengthening Islamic identity in sports, as well as reducing discrimination against Muslims.
The fifth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games officially kicked off in Konya, Turkey, with a grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, August 9. The tournament will run from August 9-18, with the participation of 56 Islamic countries, under the supervision of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and the Turkish Olympic Committee.
In addition to the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the opening ceremony held in Konya, central Turkey, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Arsen Tatar, Prime Ministers of Palestine Muhammad Shtayyeh, Albanian Edi Rama and Algeria, Ayman bin Abdul Rahman, in addition to the Minister of Sports participated. Saudi President of the Sports Federation for Islamic Solidarity Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al Saud.
It should be noted that the tournament was scheduled to be held in August 2021, but it was postponed due to its conflict with the date of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and due to the outbreak of the Corona epidemic at the time, in the interest of the federation for the participation of all member states.
The origin of the story
The idea behind the launch of the Islamic Solidarity Games, which was hosted by Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2005, was to develop athletes, strengthen Islamic friendship, inculcate the values of Islam primarily for youth, as well as strengthen solidarity and relations through sport among the countries of the Islamic world.
It is noteworthy that the original idea of the Islamic Solidarity Games came from Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz during the third Islamic Summit in 1981. Today, the Islamic Solidarity Games hosts the largest number of participants in a sporting event other than the Olympic Games.
Although it is a sports competition launched by the initiative of 57 Muslim countries to improve Islamic solidarity, strengthen Islamic identity in sports and help reduce discrimination against Muslims, non-Muslim citizens of those countries can also participate in the Games.
As with the Olympic Games and World Cup competitions, the Islamic Solidarity Federation Games are held every four years and are supervised by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation. Before the start of the fifth edition in Turkey on Tuesday, the fourth edition was held in Azerbaijan in 2017, the third in Indonesia in 2013, the first edition in Saudi Arabia in 2005, and the second edition that was scheduled to be held in Iran in 2009 was canceled, and the sixth edition is scheduled to be held in Cameroon in 2025.
4000 athletes from 56 countries
More than 4,000 male and female athletes from 56 countries participate in the competitions, which include 27 different sports, individual and team, namely handball, volleyball, basketball (3X3), football, shooting, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, shooting, fencing, wrestling, weightlifting, judo, karate, kickboxing and table tennis. Bow and arrow, rhythmic gymnastics, taekwondo, swimming and table tennis.
Participants in the Games, which are held in 12 different venues across Konya, including stadiums and sports centers, are competing to win about 355 medals awarded this year.
It is noteworthy that Turkey dominates the ranking of countries with the most medals during the previous three sessions, with a total of 305 medals, including 95 gold, 101 silver and 109 bronze medals.
A concrete example of Islamic solidarity
President Erdogan announced the start of the championship competitions, praising in his speech the efforts of everyone who contributed to organizing this event. For his part, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, thanked President Erdogan and Turkey for supporting this event.
Taha expressed his appreciation for the importance Turkey attaches to sports and youth activities, stressing that the fifth session of the Islamic Solidarity Games contributes to promoting cultural pluralism and dialogue among civilizations through sports.
Taha pointed out that the event, which brings together 4,000 athletes from different countries and cultures, is a tangible example of Islamic solidarity, adding: "I am confident that this event will support sports and youth in the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation."
For his part, the Saudi Minister of Sports and President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al Saud, said that they gathered around a lasting brotherhood and a great goal, expressing his thanks to everyone who contributed to organizing the event, wishing success and success to all participating athletes.
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