The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. Managed jointly by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), the Games involve elite athletes of the OIC competing in a variety of sports. The most recent edition was held in Konya, Turkey, in 2022. The next edition will take place in 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background

The Solidarity Games were established to strengthen Islamic camaraderie and reinforce the values of Islam, primarily to the youth. The ISSF strives to improve Islamic solidarity, promote Islamic identity in sports and help reduce discrimination toward Muslims. There are currently 57 members of the OIC. Non-Muslim citizens from member countries are also allowed to take part in the Games. With the level of political fragmentation, the deficiencies in economic development in many Muslim countries, and the financial cost of the Islamic Solidarity games, the longevity of the games is an on-going challenge.

History

The** original idea for the Solidarity Games came from Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, during the Third Islamic Summit in 1981. **** The first Solidarity Games were held in 2005 in Saudi **Arabia. In 2005, the games were male-only with 7,000 athletes from fifty-four countries competing in thirteen different sports. Since 2010 women are allowed to participate in the games, but compete on different days than men. The second Games were originally scheduled to take place in October 2009 in Iran, later rescheduled for April 2010, and ultimately canceled after a dispute arose between Iran and the Arab World over the use of the term "Persian Gulf" in logos for the Games, as some countries in the Arab world use the term "Arabian Gulf" instead. Dispute over the name has been a recurring source of disharmony between Arab states and Iran. The fourth edition took place in Baku on 12–22 May 2017. ‌The 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games were the fifth edition of the event. It was the first time that the event was organised by the Turkish Olympic Committee. Scheduled to take place in 2021, the event was postponed to be held in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games will be the first held to be a single country more than once. The elected host city, Riyadh, is the capital of Saudi Arabia. Originally, it was speculated that Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, would host the event, but it was later moved to Riyadh for unclear reasons.

Editions

Sports

28 sports have been presented in the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Current sports

• Athletics (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Basketball (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Bodybuilding (2025) • Diving (since 2005) • Equestrian (2005–2013) • Football (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Gymnastics (since 2017) • Handball (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Judo (since 2017) • Karate (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Swimming (since 2005) • Table tennis (since 2005) • Taekwondo (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Tennis (since 2005) • Volleyball (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Water polo (since 2005) • Weightlifting (since 2005)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Wrestling (since 2017)– at the Islamic Solidarity Games • Wushu (since 2013)

Previous sports

Medal count