OIC And Russian Federation Boost Cooperation For Youth And Sports

In a significant meeting held in Jeddah, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hussein Ibrahim Taha, welcomed Azat Kadyrov, the First Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, along with his delegation. This gathering underscored the mutual interest in fostering ties between Russia and the OIC, particularly in the realms of youth empowerment and sports development.

The discussions revolved around two major Russian initiatives: the "Islamic Youth Games" scheduled to take place in Kazan in 2025, and the "Global Youth Summit," also set for Kazan, but in August 2024. These projects were lauded by Secretary-General Taha, who acknowledged Russia's proactive engagement as an OIC Observer Member State. He praised their efforts towards realizing the aspirations outlined in the OIC Charter and their collaboration with the OIC General Secretariat on agendas of shared concern.

Secretary-General Taha affirmed the OIC General Secretariat's commitment to ensuring the success of these forthcoming events. This will be achieved through close coordination with relevant OIC organs and institutions, alongside collaboration with the Kingdom, which is chairing the 5th Islamic Conference on Youth and Sports Ministers. He emphasized that issues concerning youth and sports are of paramount importance on the OIC agenda.

The Secretary-General also highlighted a crucial belief held by the OIC: that global peace, security, and prosperity hinge on effectively addressing the challenges faced by young people. He stressed the importance of engaging with youth, advocating for their rights, and including them in decision-making processes to achieve these goals.

This meeting not only reinforces the strategic partnership between Russia and the OIC but also aligns with broader objectives to nurture young talents and promote sports as a unifying force across nations.

With inputs from SPA