Political analysts doubt Azerbaijan's chance to use Islamic Solidarity Games for strengthening its position in Islamic world

According to sports commentators, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to its participation in the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games and expects to take the first place in the unofficial team scoring. Political analyst Khikmet Khadjizade has noted that Baku officials intend to conduct the Islamic Solidarity Games for political goals. According to expert Tofiq Tyurkel, it is not worth talking of the possibility for Baku to increase its influence on the Islamic world through the Islamic Solidarity Games. In recent years, the authorities have been trying to use the Islamic factor in domestic politics, noted Natiq Djafarli, Executive Secretary of the "Republican Initiative".

According to Zeki Feizullaev, a sports observer for the newspaper "Nedelya", Azerbaijan can claim the first place in the unofficial team scoring. So, at the Olympic Games in Rio, the Azerbaijani national team showed the best result in terms of the number of medals among national teams of Muslim countries.

Zeki Feizullaev has noted that "these are young competitions, and their prestige grows with every game."

Political analyst Khikmet Khadjizade, the leader of the Centre for Political and Economic Relations, believes that Baku officials conduct competitions poorly rated in the international ratings such as the European Games and the Islamic Solidarity Games in order to win a lot of medals in the absence of strong rivals and to present that fact to the population as sports achievements allegedly strengthening the international image of Azerbaijan.

As far as the direct profit from tourism in connection with the Islamic Solidarity Games is concerned, Natiq Djafarli has expressed the opinion that "it is impossible to provide a breakthrough in the development of tourism by some international sports events." He does not expect an inflow of tourists directly in connection with the Islamic Solidarity Games.

The expert has also noted that some international competitions such as the European Games, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and races of the "Formula 1" do not justify their costs.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.