Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 26/11/2023
The “Journey to the Holy Sites in Islam for Youth of Arab and Islamic countries” was organized by the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 17 to 26 November 2023, in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States, ended on 25 November 2023, with an official closing ceremony held in presence of H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Musad, Undersecretary for Sports Affairs, representing His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the Fifth Session of the Islamic Conference on Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYSM).
In his statement, H.E. the Undersecretary for Sports Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed his thanks to the Member States that sent participants, the OIC General Secretariat and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States for their coordination with the Ministry of Sports which contributed to the success of the program. He also expressed the readiness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to continue this initiative and to organize other similar programs and activities in its capacity as Chair of the ICYSM in coordination with the OIC General Secretariat in order to allow youth from the OIC Member States to exchange knowledge and share experience and to further build their capacities.
For his part, H.E. Ambassador Musa Kulaklikaya, Assistant-Secretary General for Administration and Finance of the OIC, representing H.E. the Secretary-General of the OIC, highly commended the important initiative of the Saudi Ministry of Sports in organizing this useful and worthwhile program that allowed tens of youth from many Arab and Islamic countries to perform Umrah, visit the sacred and holy places in Islam including the Kaabah, Safa and Marwa, Mina, Musdallifah, Arafa, Madinah Al Munawarrah, the Holy Mosque of the Prophet (PBUH), Uhud, Masjid Quba, the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex, the revelation exhibition, the Kiswah Factory, among others.
He also conveyed the deep gratitude of the OIC to the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its laudable cooperation and its constant support to the OIC, especially since assuming the Chairmanship of the ICYSM. On this, Ambassador Musa recalled the key role that the newly established Department of Youth and Sports within the General Secretariat will play as a tool to better coordinate efforts and implement policies aimed at promoting youth empowerment and development in the OIC Member States as recalled by the relevant Resolutions adopted on Youth issue.
Finally, while calling for the continuation of this program, he invited the participants to make the best of this experience and to build on it to promote dialogue, tolerance, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence within their respective communities and countries.
The participants, through their spokespersons, expressed their personal appreciation and conveyed the gratitude of their countries to the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the OIC General secretariat for the initiative and the success of the program.
