Alexander Karelin: "Organizers of Islamic Solidarity Games have done great job"

Last night, the official closing ceremony of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games was held in Baku. 54 countries participated in the games, and Azerbaijan's national team won 75 gold, 50 silver and 37 bronze medals. The second was the team of Turkey, the third was Iran.

Speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, the three times Olympic champion in Greek-Roman wrestling, a member of the State Duma Alexander Karelin, admitted that he has followed with interest the conduct of the Islamic Solidarity Games: "I watched the compositions, watched how the program was formed, including lighting, because as a person with experience in organizing competitions, I am very interested in how they form teams on the basis of religion. All this was done in a harmonious way, without hurting the feelings of those living in traditionally Islamic territories, but who adheres to a different faith. I think that everything was done in a balanced manner".

Alexander Karelin especially noted Azerbaijan's merits as the organizer of the Games: "Well done - everything was very civilised, of course, with proper restrictions, which presupposes the behavior of followers of the Prophet Muhammad, including those who covered the competitions. I followed it. And the results of the Games are also logical.We cannot say that someone was made the strongest unjustly".

Now Karelin is worried about the experience of organizing major international competitions, since Russia will be organizing several non-standard sports events soon. The sports program of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be held on June 1-3, includes a gala hockey match, in which politicians, businessmen, representatives of culture, as well as legends of Russian and world hockey will take part; the ‘VTB Arena Open: Showdown between the Two Capitals’ gala basketball match; the International mixed martial arts tournament (MMA) M-1 Challenge 79; the International mini-football tournament among consular missions and representatives of people's diplomacy; the Roscongress Cup chess and billiards tournaments.

"We are focused on showing in the framework of the St. Petersburg Forum how important and effective to maintain the rigidity and honesty of competition in such a competitive environment as sport. The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning. In particular, it was confirmed by the games at the World Hockey Championship. We will discuss it on the sidelines, on the forum platforms in St. Petersburg. We are also busy with presenting to the sports and public community within the framework of the St. Petersburg Forum the story about the struggle in the Olympic program of 2013," Alekasnder Karelin said.