Member of the Milli Majlis, Konul Nurullayeva, drew attention to Azerbaijan's contribution to Islamic solidarity and the strengthening of its international position as a prestigious sporting nation during a plenary session. The deputy touched upon the 7th Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, from November 7-21, in which she participated as the Chairperson of the Islamic Solidarity Games Coordination Commission. She stated that these games were also memorable for their large-scale, professional organization: “More than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries competed in 23 sports. Through these games, solidarity was once again promoted through sports. The organization of advanced technologies, cultural integration, the activeness of media professionals and volunteers, and the professional initiatives of the organizing committee were among the successes of this event. Azerbaijani athletes also performed successfully in this prestigious competition.”
Stating that Azerbaijan's prestige as a sporting nation has been steadily increasing in recent years, K. Nurullayeva noted that the successes in this field are directly linked to President Ilham Aliyev. “The head of our state, who has led the National Olympic Committee since 1997, always shows attention and care to Azerbaijani athletes. This process, which has been ongoing for twenty-eight years, is yielding successful results. I would like to note that the Azerbaijani team competed with 169 athletes in 20 sports at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games. Our country was most represented in wrestling (18), handball (16), and fencing (15). Our athletes won a total of 59 medals – 9 gold, 19 silver, and 31 bronze. With this result, Azerbaijan ranked 10th in terms of gold medals and 4th in terms of total medals among 57 countries.”
The deputy added that the Islamic Solidarity Games emphasize the importance of joint Islamic action and support for cooperation among OIC member states. “Sports serve as a bridge for promoting peace, unity, and understanding. Azerbaijan is currently experiencing a period of true ascent in sports, and a solid foundation is being laid for even greater achievements in the future. Our historic Victory, achieved under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander, President Ilham Aliyev, is a source of pride for every Azerbaijani. A patriotic young generation has grown up in our country that is invincible both physically and morally. These young people raise the Azerbaijani flag on sports arenas and on the battlefield.”
Recalling that the first Islamic Solidarity Games were organized in Saudi Arabia 20 years ago, K. Nurullayeva stated that various discussions were also organized within the framework of the current games. “As the Chairperson of the Islamic Solidarity Games Coordination Commission, I met with the heads of delegations from more than 50 member countries to discuss the main organizational issues for the successful holding of the 6th edition of the Games. I also participated in the 44th meeting of the Islamic Solidarity Games Executive Committee and engaged in a productive exchange of ideas with my colleagues. At the same time, I delivered a speech at the 14th Islamic Solidarity Games General Assembly, attended by the presidents of the National Olympic Committees of 57 countries, representatives of the International Olympic Committee, heads of international federations, and other guests, providing the audience with detailed information about the work done by the Coordination Commission. I also attended a conference organized by the Ministry of Sports of Saudi Arabia on the topic 'Women in Sports' within the framework of the Games. The main goal of the conference was to strengthen the role of women in sports in the region, promote women's leadership, and determine future development strategies. Extensive discussions were held at this platform on transformation processes in the sports ecosystem, inclusivity, gender equality, and sustainable development directions.”
The deputy stated that the Islamic Solidarity Games are an important event that promotes fair competition in the Islamic world and propagates the values of peace and brotherhood. In this context, she referred to the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games hosted by Azerbaijan 8 years ago. “In 2017, Azerbaijan sent a message of peace, security, unity, and solidarity to the world with its high level of organization. Azerbaijan presented exemplary standards to the Islamic world. Azerbaijan hosting this international sports competition, where the entire Muslim world was represented, was a manifestation of the great trust shown to our country. As a result of the preparatory work carried out under the special attention of Mr. President and the direct leadership of the First Lady, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, the IV Islamic Solidarity Games were also inscribed in history as another success for Azerbaijan. The experience gained and the organizational work demonstrated at 'Baku-2015' were perfectly ensured at the IV Islamic Solidarity Games.”
K. Nurullayeva stated that during the meetings held in Riyadh, it was specifically noted that thanks to the support of Mr. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, the Baku-2017 Islamic Solidarity Games were remembered as a new bright chapter in Azerbaijan's dynamic development and another historic event for the international sports community.
Member of Parliament
Konul Nurullayeva