The voyage of the "Baku-2017" 4th Islamic Solidarity Games starting from the Caspian Sea is launched

The voyage of the "Baku-2017" 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games starting from the Caspian Sea was launched at the Annals Stones Museum in the capital, April 5.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Chairperson of the “Baku-2017” 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games’ Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva, family members, Princess of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and President of the Saudi Arabia National Olympic Committee Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attended the ceremony.

To be held from 12 to 22 May this year in Baku, the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games are a very significant sports event not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the whole Islamic world. During these ten days, attention of all the Islamic world will focus on Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Chairperson of the “Baku-2017” 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva met with Princess of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and President of the Saudi Arabia National Olympic Committee Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The ceremony dedicated to the voyage of the "Baku-2017" 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games starting from the Caspian Sea was launched with Azerbaijani dances.

The Head of our State addressed the ceremony.

Then, Princess of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and President of the Saudi Arabia National Olympic Committee Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud took the floor.

The ceremony then continued with an artistic part.

Mugham, a masterpiece of the Azerbaijani and world music, was presented by masters-khanendehs Alim Gasymov and Fergana Gasymova.

The voyage of the “Baku-2017” 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games is devoted to the aquatic element, as water is a vital source for every living being. The symbol of purity and unity, water is given a great spiritual value in Islam, and it has special significance for Baku, located on the shore of the Caspian Sea.

A child from Baku collected water, a symbol of unity, from the shores of the Caspian Sea, accompanied by two famous sportsmen – twofold winner of the world championship for taekwondo Rashad Ahmadov and silver medal winner of the Rio Olympic Games Maria Stadnik, to be distributed all over Azerbaijan.

Then children went onto the scene.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev presented the water taken from the Caspian Sea to children coming from all corners of Azerbaijan, to be taken with them.

To cover over 15 historical cities/ towns, 5 lakes, 1 reservoir, 3 rivers, 1 spring, 3 waterfalls of the country, and the Caspian Sea, the voyage will overcome more than 3 thousand kilometres. In each of the 15 big aquatic spaces with natural beauty in various corners of Azerbaijan, a local child, accompanied by two sportsmen, will fill a copper ware with water at a special ceremony.

Along with the Caspian water sent by President Ilham Aliyev, other waters to be collected will be presented later at the evening festival. Full of Azerbaijani music and dances, grandiose water effects and colourful fireworks, this event may be attended by all.

So, the voyage started. “The Voyage starting from the Caspian Sea” will come to an end on 12 May by the inauguration of the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku. At this time, children, with pure waters of Azerbaijan collected by them from the country’s lakes, rivers, waterfalls and springs, will welcome sportsmen from over 50 states of the Islamic world to the Games.

At the end, grandiose fireworks took place.