"Dear athletes. You returned to your homeland from Konya a few days ago, you returned with a great victory. You once again raised the sports glory of our country. On this occasion, I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart and want to express my gratitude to you for the achievements. I am sure that the people of Azerbaijan are with you. is proud. Because you have once again shown the whole world that Azerbaijan is a sports country, Azerbaijani athletes are distinguished by their strength."

APA reports that President Ilham Aliyev said this in his speech on August 22 during a meeting with athletes who achieved results in the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games.

The head of state said that being awarded the fourth place in the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games is a great achievement:

"This achievement shows that our previous successes were not accidental. As you know, five years ago, our team won the first place in the IV Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku. This is natural, because their native walls always provide extra help to athletes. This time, it is very as a result of intense struggle, we were awarded the fourth place. I should also say that the strongest athletes of the countries took part in the Games. Our athletes have once again shown the strength of our country by winning 99 medals, 29 of which are gold medals.

I must also say that it is very gratifying that our athletes won medals in 19 sports.

This shows that many types of sports are developing successfully in our country.

Of course, in the first place - if it is possible to say so - are wrestlers, they have won 23 medals, 8 of them are gold medals.

This is also natural.

Because wrestling is our national sport and we have traditionally been successful in wrestling.

In second place are representatives of gymnastics.

Our athletes won 17 medals in three types of gymnastics, 8 of them were gold medals.

In third place are non-Olympic sports - kickboxing athletes.

The number of medals won by them is 15.

3 of them are gold medals.

So, this is really a great achievement.

Because more than 50 countries participated in these Games, and I say again, the struggle was very intense."