Baku to host the Global Forum of the Special Olympic Young Leaders

4 April 2018

A memorandum was signed on 4 April, to hold the Global Forum of Special Olympics Young Leaders in Azerbaijan. Memorandum was signed by Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, and David Evangelista, President of the Special Olympic European and Eurasian Movement.

Speaking at the ceremony, Azad Rahimov said that Azerbaijan is known as a sports country in the world and that the country will write a new history by hosting this forum. The minister noted that the Global Forum of Special Olympics Young Leaders will be held in Baku on September 24-28. This forum will show the care and attention shown to people with mental and physical disabilities. The Forum will give great inspiration and power to those who feel outside of society. Nearly 300 young and middle-aged delegates from 30 countries will come together to bring a bridge to a new era. The Special Olympic Movement will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

David Evangelista expressed his pride of being in Azerbaijan, his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the development of sport, attention and care for youth in our country. He noted that Baku is the perfect place for this unique project and its perfect heritage will be memorable. The event, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the organization, will be remembered with a big call. We urge intellectuals, young leaders, and cultural figures to take full advantage of the potential of young people to promote inclusion.

Then David Evangelista made a presentation. The event featured a video about the activities of the Special Olympics Movement.

Then the President of the Special Olympic Azerbaijan Shahin Aliyev and Chief Advisor of the UN Office of the Representative of the UN Population Fund Farid Babayev signed a cooperation agreement between the two organizations.

In the end, journalists' questions were answered.

It should be noted that the forum, which will be held within five days, is supported by the Government of Azerbaijan. The event will be a great force and stimulus for the broader and more focused attention of the participating countries to the field of society. The Forum will give a new impetus to the start of social youth projects within the framework of the Special Olympic Movement. About 5 million members of the Special Olympic Movement, founded in 1968, have partners in 170 countries.

The Azerbaijan Special Olympic Movement, found in the 1990s, unites about 5,000 athletes participating in various competitions.