ICD inks MOU to introduce Islamic banking in Azerbaijan
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, will introduce Islamic banking products in Azerbaijan and lobby for changes in country’s banking legislation in order to incorporate Islamic banking.
The grand sporting event of the Muslim World – the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games continues in Baku with exciting performances of up to 3,000 athletes around the world.
Azerbaijan’s medal hopefuls have proved the high hopes pinned on them, as the national athletes have scooped 115 medals, including 58 gold, 33 silver and 24 bronze. Turkey leads the medal standing with 59 gold, 51 silver and 43 bronze medals. Iran goes third with 16 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals.
Azerbaijan joined the Games with 325 athletes, while the biggest delegation was sent by Turkey – 345 athletes. Iran ranks third for the number of athletes participating in the Games, having 300 athletes within the national team.
Azerbaijan opened the wrestling competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games on Wednesday by claiming four medals, but just one of them was gold.
Murad Mammadov and Rasul Chunayev bagged bronzes while Rafig Huseynov claimed silver, but it was Orkhan Nuriyev who went all the way as he finished with a gold medal around his neck.
The number of wrestling medals seems to increase, since on the second day of the competition many of the national athletes reached the finals to defeat for major trophies.
Azerbaijani taekwondo fighters claimed four titles on golden night on May 17, when Radik Isayev, Patimat Abakarova, Aykhan Taghizade and Milad Beigi beat all their rivals.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani football team has reached the final. The national football team sealed their place in the final as they saw off Algeria 2-0 in Thursday's first semifinal.
The home team will face the winner of the other semi-finals, Cameroon or Oman, in the final match at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, where the bronze-medal match will also be held. Thus, Azerbaijan booked their place in the final and a chance to claim their first football gold.
So far, the majority of the national medals came from gymnastics, taekwondo, wrestling, karate and judo.
The country expects good results from the Games and the athletes will try to take the first place in the Games and gain more medals than in the 1st European Games if to consider the awards that will be given to the winners.
Under the presidential order, the victorious national athletes and their coaches will be rewarded. Winners of gold will get 50,000 manats (about $29,700) and their coaches 25,000 manats ($14,800); silver winners and their coaches will receive 30,000 manats ($17,800) and 15,000 manats ($8,900) respectively; while bronze winners will be given 20,000 manats ($11,900), with their coaches taking 10,000 manats ($5,900).
The medal winners and their coaches will also be rewarded by the National Olympic Committee.
Under the order of President of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev, gold winners and their coaches are offered 50,000 manats and 25,000 manats respectively; silver winners will receive 30,000 manats and their coaches will be paid 15,000 manats; those who win a bronze medal will get 20,000 manats, earning their coaches 10,000 manats.
The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games started May 8 and will last until May 22 in Azerbaijan’s capital. Baku welcomed athletes from 54 countries of the Muslim world.