Islamic Games start in Baku

The 4th Islamic Solidarity Games opened in Baku on Friday evening with a grand ceremony attended by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife.

During the games more than 3,000 athletes from 54 countries will be competing for 269 sets of medals over 10 days of competition across 21 different sports (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).

Athletes will vie for 23 sets of medals in 6 sports categories on May 13 - the day after the opening ceremony. Thirty-five medals will be competed for on May 17.

The Games' program includes competitions in new sport categories. Unlike previous Islamic Solidarity Games, the Baku 2017 will feature zurkhaneh, wrestling, judo, boxing, shooting, blind-judo, para-athletics, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics competitions. Team sports include water polo, volleyball, handball and football competitions.

Among individual sports will be athletics, swimming, diving, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting and wushu competitions. Instead badminton, equestrian, fencing competitions have been removed from the program.

source commonspace.eu with agencies

photo: Opening Ceremony of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games took place in BAku on Friday, 12 May 2017 (picture courtesy of Trend News Agency)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday 24 July but major disagreements remain over trade and the war in Ukraine.  The two sides issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a long-standing plea from European leaders that is likely to fall once again on deaf ears.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday 24 July but major disagreements remain over trade and the war in Ukraine.  The two sides issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a long-standing plea from European leaders that is likely to fall once again on deaf ears.