Islamic Solidarity Games and its Significance

The Islamic Solidarity Games began in 2005, but their concept dates back to the Third Islamic Summit Conference, which the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, held in Mecca in 1981.

began in 2005, but their concept dates back to the Third Islamic Summit Conference, which the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, held in Mecca in 1981.

The summit was significant since it occurred at the start of the Hijri era’s 15th century. Mecca was expressly chosen as the location to usher in a new Islamic century, and the initial session took place inside the walls of the Grand Mosque.

Prince Faisal Fahd Abdulaziz, the president of Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency of Youth Welfare, demanded the creation of a specific institution for the growth and administration of the sport in OIC member states during the meeting. Four years later, in 1985, the OIC extended invitations to its members to participate in the founding assembly of the ISSF in Riyadh. Representatives from 34 national Olympic committees accepted, which paved the ground for the formation of the federation.

Twenty years after the founding of the ISSF, the late Prince Faisal’s vision was realized when the first Games began in four cities in Saudi Arabia: Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Taif. A total of 7,000 athletes from 54 nations competed in 13 events. Because of the event’s splendor, Alan Hubbard, a sports columnist for the Independent, stated during his coverage that no finer multi-sports spectacular has ever been organized, aside from the Olympic Games themselves.

The Islamic Solidarity Games are being held in Konya, Turkey, for the fifth time. The 5th Islamic Solidarity Games were officially launched last night in Konya by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid a spectacular display of fireworks and light shows.

At least 4,000 athletes from 56 Muslim nations will compete in 24 different games during the Games, which are scheduled to take place from August 9 to August 18. A total of 355 medals will be awarded. The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), which seeks to promote the growth of the athletes of the Islamic geography and to increase the culture of brotherhood and solidarity among the athletes, is responsible for organizing this most recent edition as well as prior ones.

Athletes who are Muslim are not the only ones who can compete in the event. As they did in previous editions, non-Muslim athletes from all of the member nations are competing and exhibiting their skills in Konya. The Games had previously been held in Saudi Arabia (2005), Iran (2010), Indonesia (2013), and Azerbaijan before Türkiye (2017). However, the Tehran event had to be canceled due to a dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Türkiye is set to host fifth edition of Islamic Solidarity Games and the opening ceremony is about to kick off in Konya province pic.twitter.com/Ko0VqPYW85

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) August 9, 2022

Since 2005, the Games have traveled from the Saudi Arabian deserts to Palembang, Indonesia, on the banks of the Musi River, Baku, Azerbaijan, and finally Konya, Turkey—the final burial place of Mevlana Rumi and the former seat of the Seljuk Empire. Erdogan greeted the participating nations and their athletes and extended an invitation to all sports lovers, particularly young people, to join the event.