MEDIA GUIDE 12 May 2017 OPENING CEREMONY Baku Olympic Stadium Knowledge Information in this media guide is embargoed until 22:00 (Baku time) Introduction on 12 May 2017. Words of welcome 2 Azerbaijan at a glance 6 During the Ceremony there are some things we’d like to keep secret for the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games 7 audience until the moment they’re revealed, so please don’t spoil the surprise! Ceremony overview Key points 8 Scene by scene Opening Ceremony 12 Credits Principal performers 61 Baku 2017 Executive 62 Ceremonies team 63 Sponsors 66 Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time) 01 HRH Prince Abdullah Azad Rahimov Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Minister of Youth & Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Chief Executive Officer, Azerbaijan Islamic Solidarity Games President, Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation Operations Committee The Games will Friends from all over the world, welcome to Baku for the fourth The Games are the Tonight, it’s Azerbaijan’s privilege to welcome athletes and spectators see competitors edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games. culmination of from across the Islamic world to Baku, a beautiful city that has been from four over 20 months of transformed over the last five years by the power of sport. continents come The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation is committed to harnessing careful planning together in the the power of sport to foster understanding and unity across the and preparation, This evening’s Ceremony will be an unforgettable celebration of unity Islamic world. and solidarity, as Azerbaijan honours its heritage while continuing to spirit of peace and and we are ready build a reputation as a centre for international exchange and major respect, providing Sport brings together participants and spectators in an atmosphere to host thousands sporting events, including the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this summer inspiration for of cooperation and community, and provides the foundation for lasting of athletes at 16 and UEFA European Football Championship matches in 2020. spectators of bonds of friendship. The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games will see state-of-the-art all faiths and competitors from four continents come together in the spirit of peace sporting venues. The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games are the culmination of over nationalities. and respect, providing inspiration for spectators of all faiths and 20 months of careful planning and preparation, and we are ready to nationalities. host thousands of athletes at 16 state-of-the-art sporting venues. I would like to thank the people of our wonderful host nation – Over the coming 10 days, you will enjoy competitions across 20 Azerbaijan – and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for her different sports, from popular Olympic events such as Gymnastics leadership as Chair of the Baku 2017 Organising Committee. Azerbaijan and Wrestling, to up-and-coming sports such as Wushu and Azerbaijani is passionate about sport, and has shown unwavering commitment to Zurkhaneh, to fully integrated Para Athletics and Blind Judo events. hosting an event of the highest standard. I have no doubt that these Games will be a credit to the hard work and commitment of Baku 2017’s It is this commitment to inclusion and solidarity that will inspire organisers and volunteers, and that our athletes will be provided with the athletes of the future, and I look forward to seeing the values the perfect conditions in which to excel. of friendly competition and fair play come to life at Baku 2017. I would like to wish all our athletes the best of luck as they embark on what will be 10 days of excellent sporting competition. 02 Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time) 03 Catherine Ugwu Nathan M. Wright Director of Ceremonies & Executive Producer Artistic Director Our Ceremony is These Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku come at a critical moment At the heart of Tonight, I am proud to share with you ‘Knowledge’ – the Opening a universal story in world history. A time marked by uncertainty and discord, when our Ceremony is Ceremony of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games. of peace rooted our differences seem to divide rather than unite us. Tonight, our a little girl from in the culture Ceremony seeks instead to focus on what brings us together, as Baku, Mina. At the heart of our Ceremony is a little girl from Baku, Mina. We follow and traditions nations and as people. Her story is a her on a journey of discovery, guided by her friendly kite. Along the way she learns about her identity and heritage, her beliefs and dreams. of Azerbaijan. celebration of Ours is a universal story of peace rooted in the culture and traditions By the end, her hope for the future is all-embracing, her joy an A timely reminder of Azerbaijan. A timely reminder of the enormous contributions Islamic the power of inspiration. Mina’s story is a celebration of the power of community of the enormous civilisation has made to everything we see and do today. A tale of community and and unity. A wish, for a better world living in peace and harmony. contributions solidarity and hope filled with optimism for our collective future. unity. A wish, for Islamic civilisation a better world Creating this Ceremony – living and working in beautiful Baku, has made to Thousands of people from across the world have worked many months living in peace learning about the rich culture of Azerbaijan and the extraordinary everything we see to make this Ceremony a reality – I’d like to thank them all for their and harmony. accomplishments of Islamic civilisation – has been a true privilege. and do today. creativity, passion and commitment. I would like to thank the thousands of performers and the Ceremonies My heartfelt gratitude goes to the President of the Republic of team who have brought my story to life with their talent and dedication. Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the First Vice President of the Republic Working alongside you all has been a pleasure. of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Baku 2017 Organising Committee, Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Minister of Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov. For more than a year now, I have been moved and inspired by the Without their trust and support, none of this would have been possible. generosity and warmth of the people of Azerbaijan. I hope I have captured the spirit of your wonderful country. Tonight’s Ceremony Finally, a huge thank you to the people of Azerbaijan. This is truly is yours to enjoy. a country of shining stars who represent the very best of the human spirit. I hope tonight we make you all proud. 04 Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time) 05 Azerbaijan at a glance Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games Azerbaijan, the largest country in the Caucasus The cosmopolitan capital, Baku, sits on the In July 2013, Baku was announced as the The Azerbaijan Islamic Solidarity Games region, is located at the crossroads of Western shores of the Caspian Sea surrounded by host city for the fourth Islamic Solidarity Operations Committee (AISGOC) will organise Asia and Eastern Europe. Its eastern coastline semi-desert. Its Walled City, on UNESCO’s Games – an exciting multi-sport event and run the Games in cooperation with is bounded by the Caspian Sea – the world’s World Heritage List, is ringed by burgeoning uniting the Islamic world. the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF). largest enclosed inland body of water. new skyscrapers yet, barely a few hours’ drive Athletes from more than 50 Islamic countries Azerbaijan has always had a passion for sport away, timeless rural villages are backed by the will come together from 12 to 22 May 2017 – recently hosting the Baku 2015 European A land of plentiful natural resources, age-old soaring Caucasus mountains. to represent their nations over 10 days of Games – and its investment in Baku 2017 will culture and deeply engrained hospitality, competition across 20 different sports. pay dividends in the future as the country Azerbaijan has always played a vital role in They include 24 disciplines (Athletics and hosts further events. the region. It’s a nexus of ancient historical RECENT AND FORTHCOMING Para Athletics, Aquatics: Diving, Aquatics: empires. But also a new nation – independent MAJOR EVENTS IN AZERBAIJAN Swimming, Aquatics: Water Polo, Basketball since 1991 – and a youthful country, with In 2015, the inaugural European Games 3x3, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics: Artistic, 40% of the population aged under 25. and the Chess World Cup were held in Baku. Gymnastics: Rhythmic, Handball, Judo and 10 competition days Blind Judo, Karate, Shooting, Table Tennis, Azerbaijan enjoys a booming economy that The following year, Azerbaijan hosted the Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, 16 venues achieved the second highest GDP growth in World Chess Olympiad, Arena Polo World Cup, Wrestling: Greco-Roman, Wrestling: Freestyle, the world between 2000 and 2010. The boom UEFA European Under-17 Championship and Wushu and Zurkhaneh) in 16 state-of-the-art 20 sports is largely driven by natural resources, but AGF Trophy World Cup 2016 Rhythmic competition venues across Baku. there are also growing agriculture, tourism Gymnastics Finals. 24 disciplines and events industries. The Organising Committee was set up by Looking ahead, in the summer of 2017 the decree of Ilham Aliyev, President of the 50+ teams Nine out of 11 climate types are present in Azerbaijan Grand Prix will see Formula 1 Republic of Azerbaijan, under the leadership Azerbaijan – from semi-deserts to mountain cars racing through the streets of Baku for the of Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice President of 269 medal events tundras. At the extremes, temperatures can second year running; and later in the year, the the Republic of Azerbaijan.