The 5th Islamic Solidarity Games Ended With Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony of the huge series, hosted by Konya with the participation of 4,200 athletes from 54 countries, was held at the Selçuk University 15 July Stadium. The ceremony started with the hoisting of the Turkish flag accompanied by the National Anthem. After the flags of the participating countries were paraded, light and fireworks displays were held.
KASAPOĞLU: NO ONE LOST, BROTHERHOOD WON
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu said, “We were very happy to host thousands of our brothers in Türkiye. There was no loser in this meeting, brotherhood was the winner. Unity and camaraderie won. All our guests are returning to their countries from this distinguished city, Konya, Türkiye, with new friends and unforgettable memories. In making the world more just and livable, believe me, humanity's brief stay in this world calls for unity, solidarity and strong cooperation. Godwilling, from now on we will raise our cooperation in both the sports and youth fields to higher levels in order to strengthen our unity and solidarity. We have organized the largest sports organization of 2022. A lot of hard work and effort has gone into this. So, on this farewell night, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this effort and delightful presentation.”
EL-FAISAL: YOU HAVE GIVEN A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki el-Faisal, President of the International Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) and Minister of Sports of Saudi Arabia, thanked everyone who contributed to the hospitality: “More than 4,000 male and female players representing 54 countries participated in the games. So thank you for sending a clear message to the whole world. Solidarity is our name, peace is our language, honorable competition in sports arenas is our way. Thank you, Konya! I would like to express my gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye and its people, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for hosting this exceptional program in Konya and bringing the sports family together in this city. We are pleased to have held such a meeting after the hardships that the world has faced due to the pandemic.”
KASAPOĞLU DELIVERED THE FLAG
After the speeches, Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu handed over the flag of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation to Prince el-Faisal with a ceremony. Following the light and fireworks shows, the closing ceremony ended with the concert of the famous Turkish musician Kubat.