The National Olympic Committee (NOC) on Wednesday said they are preparing athletes for the next Islamic Solidarity Games which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May next year. 

In total, 15 sporting codes from Afghanistan will participate. 

Addressing a press conference in Kabul, head of NOC, Zahir Aghbar, said they will provide good training and opportunities for Afghan athletes by establishing a special commission for this purpose.

“This time Afghanistan will attend the event better prepared and we will have good achievements. We established the commission to recognize best athletes and address their problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, head of the athlete’s commission, Ghulam Rabbani Rabbani, said: “The Islamic Solidarity Games is a big event and all Muslim countries are preparing for it over the past two years.”

He added: “This time we will try to increase our medals in the fourth round of the games.”

The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event held by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).

The first event was held in 2005 in Saudi Arabia where Afghanistan clinched a bronze medal by Taekwondo athlete Nisar Ahmad Bahawi.

In accordance with the eighth elective General Assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, it was decided to hold the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2017.