The sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games kicked off on Friday, Nov.7 with the Opening Ceremony in Saudi Arabia, held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Until 21 November, 3,500 athletes from 57 countries will compete in multisport event that celebrates peace, diversity and unity.
Riyadh once again pulses with the sporting spirit of Islamic solidarity, seeking to consolidate itself as the epicentre of the Muslim world’s multi-sport movement.
20 years after hosting the inaugural edition, the Kingdom welcomes back the Islamic Solidarity Games, organised by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association and the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, in cooperation with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The competition celebrates the values of unity, inclusion and development among Muslim nations, reinforcing the role of sport as a bridge of understanding between cultures.
The first competitions have already taken place this week. On Tuesday, the opening matches of futsal and volleyball were played, followed on Wednesday by a special day featuring a pencak silat demonstration at the Malaz Combat Hall and further men’s volleyball encounters.
On Thursday, the programme expanded with the boxing debut under the iconic Art Tower, while the futsal and volleyball courts once again hosted delegations in action, broadcast live on ANOC TV and DAZN Sport.
The Opening Ceremony was held Friday at 20:00 local time (18:00 CET) under the patronage of King Salman, attended by national authorities and ISSA representatives, marking the official start of more than two weeks of competition that will run until 21 November.
The main sporting schedule began on Saturday, with the progressive entry of the 23 disciplines that will bring the Games to life: from athletics and swimming to combat sports such as judo, taekwondo and muay thai, along with 3×3 basketball, camel racing and parasports events reflecting the inclusive spirit of the Games.
The agenda will also feature karate, weightlifting, wushu and adapted powerlifting, in a programme that highlights the diversity and breadth of the Islamic sporting movement.
Competitions will take place across four venue clusters in key locations throughout the Saudi capital — including the Boulevard SEF Arena, Art Tower, Olympic Complex Green Hall and Malaz Combat Hall — under a sustainable hosting model designed to inspire future editions and strengthen Riyadh’s legacy as a multi-sport hub.
The Minister of Sport, President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the ISSA, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, underlined the symbolic importance of the event, stating, “This royal patronage highlights the importance of joint Islamic action and support for cooperation among the member states of the OIC, as sport serves as a vital bridge for fostering peace, unity and understanding.”
“We are excited to host more than 3,000 athletes competing in over 22 different sports, and we are committed to delivering an exceptional event that reflects the Kingdom’s organisational capabilities,” added the Saudi leader, emphasising the significance of a project that combines sporting excellence, sustainable planning and international cooperation.
The ISSA, which brings together the National Olympic Committees of 57 member countries of the OIC, seeks through the Games to strengthen sporting development and promote inclusion at all levels.
Two decades after that inaugural edition held across Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Taif, Saudi Arabia once again welcomes the Islamic nations on a renewed scale and with greater ambition, reaffirming its commitment to peace and cooperation.
The Riyadh edition represents not only the continuation of a tradition that began in 2005 but also a renewed platform to celebrate diversity, inclusion and the transformative power of sport. In the words of the organisation itself, the event “serves as a vital bridge for fostering peace, unity and understanding among Islamic nations.”
With more than 50 countries from Asia, Africa, Europe and even South America — represented by Suriname and Guyana — gathered under one common ideal, and a programme that spans from traditional disciplines to parasports, the Riyadh 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games stand as a symbol of cooperation, respect and shared pride, in an event that once again proves how sport can unite diverse regions under the spirit of one nation.
Inside The Games
