A strong message of peace and solidarity was sent out from Azerbaijan to world leaders, organizations, and religions, and just ordinary people that sports can pave the road to world peace.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received on April 5 President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) and President of Saudi Arabia`s National Olympic Committee Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Azertac reported.

“Our Federation is seriously preparing for 4th Islamic Solidarity Games. Every athlete is eager to participate in this astonishing sporting event. Athletes have already started their special training program,” said Secretary General of Azerbaijan Judo Federation Elman Babanli as he was interviewed by the official website of Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.

A meeting on the occasion of declaration of 2017 a “Year of Islamic solidarity” in Azerbaijan has been held at the Cabinet of Ministers in Baku, Azertac reported.

Qatar has offered Azerbaijan to organize a forum of Islamic countries on the eve of the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games to be held in Baku on May 12-22, 2017, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy said in a message on January 13.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on declaration of year of 2017 a Year of Islamic Solidarity.

Azerbaijani freestyle wrestler Haji Aliyev, who returned home with a bronze medal from the Rio 2016 Olympics, said his next aim is the Islamic Solidarity Games.

The 4th Islamic Solidarity Games is an exciting multi-sport event uniting the Islamic world to take place in Baku on May 12-22, 2017.

Azerbaijan’s capital Baku will host the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games on May 12-22, 2017, said Vice President of the National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade.

Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, that will welcome the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017, is now hosting a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation.