JEDDAH (UNA-OIC) - The fifth session of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation kicked off today in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the slogan "Development of Youth and Sports for a Solidarity-based Ummah".

Speaking at the opening session of the preparatory meeting for senior officials were the representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers, Ali Kadyrov, and the Deputy Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Saudi Ministry of Sport, Chairman of the Fifth Session of the Conference, Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Massad, as well as the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs in the OIC, Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet.

The Deputy Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Saudi Ministry of Sports stressed during his speech that the Kingdom’s hosting of the fifth session comes from the keenness of the Saudi leadership, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, to unite the efforts of the Islamic World to take care of the interests of the ummah's youth and athletes.

He pointed out that the conference comes within the framework of implementing the OIC Strategy for youth and sport.

He expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan for its presidency of the previous session of the conference.

In the speech of the OIC General Secretariat, Ambassador Tariq Bakheet indicated that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this session after hosting the first and second sessions of the conference in 2005 and 2014 confirms its keenness to support OIC activities, as well as its interest in the development of youth and sports in the OIC member states.

"Holding this session, at a time when the world began to recover from the pandemic, represents the OIC's commitment to the cause of promoting youth and sports in member states and its efforts in supporting cultural pluralism, dialogue between cultures and civilizations, and spreading Islamic values through sport,” Bakheet said

He added that the meeting was an opportunity to discuss issues related to youth development and sports with the aim of building a nation based on solidarity, discussing the challenges that impede building youth capacities, developing sports in member states, and formulating ways to propose solutions and appropriate mechanisms to enhance cooperation among member states in this field.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs expressed the General Secretariat's thanks to all OIC institutions active in the field of youth and sports.

The ministerial meeting will be held tomorrow under the chairmanship of the Minister of Sports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, while His Excellency the Secretary-General of the organization, Mr Hussein Ibrahim Taha, will deliver a speech highlighting the efforts of the organization and the highest priority for youth and sports issues and the importance of activating their participation in the development of their societies.

It will also discuss the situation of youth in the OIC Member States and the importance attached by the OIC and its relevant organs and institutions to the development of youth and sports.

Source: Union of OIC News Agencies