Closing Ceremony of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, Baku 2017
The Closing Ceremony of the 4th Islamic Games of Baku 2017 was held on Monday, 22 May, 2017 at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.
The Closing Ceremony was honored by the attendance of His Excellency the President of Azerbaijan Mr. lham Aliyev and the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Maheriban “Senior Vice President of Azerrbaijan and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Games” , the Secretary General of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation Mr. Faisal Abdulaziz Al-Nassar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of UAE, Ministers of Youth and Sport of various Islamic Countries and Representatives of the International Olympic Committee & Representatives of International Sport Federations.
His Excellency the President of Azerbaijan Mr. lham Aliyev addressed attendants saying:
”God has blessed Azerbaijan a friendly spirit & toleration and our nation will remain as a link between various nations and cultures by virtue of its ability to promote brotherhood and cooperation all over the world.
Features of our legacy is manifested through our keen interest to invest in sport and the city of Baku has been able to assert its presence as a major city in the world level and has become a hotbed of legendary International activities such as the European Olympic Games, the Formula Championship, European Football Championship2020 and the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games this year.
We have seen, over the past ten days, thousands of athletes who came to Azerbaijan form 54 Islamic Countries to compete in a spirit of fair and honest competition that promotes Peace, Unity and respect.
While their Excellence in sport was inspirational to us, their dedication has captured our admiration and therefore I congratulate you all.
Accordingly, and as we are proceeding tonight to the conclusion of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games 2017, we all agree that “Sport” is capable of bringing us together and able to strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity among our people”.
After that the parade of the 54 countries participated in the Games, walked in united under one banner (i.e. the flag of ISSF).
Then, the following speech was delivered by the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Maheriban “Senior Vice President of Azerrbaijan and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Games”:
“It is to my pleasure to pleasure to greet you all on the occasion of concluding the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, Baku 2017.
It is a great honor to see that we have succeeded in uniting the Islamic World over the past ten sport inspirational days in Baku, the city reborn again thanks to the “Sport” that people of Azerbaijan love.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation for granting our country the honor to host these glorious Games.
My sincerest congratulation to all sports men/women for the great achievements you have accomplished during these Games. The lovely picture you have left for us has been deeply preserved our memory due to your spirit which is as lovely as the breeze of “Gellavar”.
With real longing and sharing the nice memories of our glorious Games we bid you farewell looking forward to seeing you once again in Azerbaijan”.
Mr. Faisal Al-Nassar the Secretary General of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation gave the following speech of the ISSF:
“ In the name of God, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammed and all his Family and Companions.
We are celebrating, this evening the conclusion of this fantastic sport festival, and celebrating the unique opportunity we have had therein to enhance bonds of and friendliness and fraternity in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan which has availed all capabilities to enable our athletes to enjoy ideal atmosphere to enable them to shine and glitter and to enable its guests who came from four continents to live and enhance bonds of Unity, Understanding among them.
The success achieved, in staging these great Games, is credited to the hospitable country of Azerbaijan led by its great President Mr. Ilham Aliyev and to the distinguished efforts rendered by the First Lady Mrs. Mahriban Aliyeva the Senior Vice President of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, Baku,2017.
I would like, in the name of ISSF, to thank