Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 6
Trend:
Azerbaijan always holds sports competitions of international scope at a high level, so the country gained great prestige in the world as a sports country, said the country’s Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov.
A striking example of it is the first European Games held in 2015, the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe held in 2016, and the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, to be held in 2017, noted Rahimov Oct. 6 in Istanbul addressing the 3rd conference of the youth and sports ministers of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member states, said the Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Ministry.
Touching upon the success of Azerbaijani athletes at the 31st Summer Olympic Games in Rio, the minister said that the athletes returned home with 18 medals and Azerbaijan took the 7th place in Europe, 1st place – among the Islamic states and the 2nd place – in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).
Rahimov also noted that the 2/3 of the Azerbaijani population, which will mark the 25th anniversary of its independence on Oct. 18, are the young people under the age of 30.
The State Program “Azerbaijani youth in 2005-2009, the State Program “Azerbaijani youth in 2011-2015” has been implemented until today and Azerbaijan's Youth Development Strategy 2015-2025, which includes more than 20 programs and covers 10 years for the first time, has been approved, he added.
Rahimov said that 320 non-governmental organizations (NGO), which work in various directions and 39 youth homes operate in the country and informed about a number of projects in the youth sphere.
During his speech, the minister informed the conference’s participants about the upcoming 4th Islamic Solidarity Games. A video about the Games was presented to the participants in order to form a complete view about the Games.
The Youth Strategy of the OIC, Sports Strategy of the OIC, resolutions on sports issues, the conference’s final report, Istanbul declaration, final documents about the date and time of the next conference will be adopted during the conference.