The Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA; Arabic: الاتحاد الرياضي للتضامن الاسلامي) is the supreme authority governing the Islamic Solidarity Games. It is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Its mission is to increase the cooperation between its member countries through sports. Currently, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is ISSA President since 8 April 2019.
The Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) was previously called the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).
History At their 3rd Islamic Summit Conference held in Mecca and Ta'if (1981), the leaders of Islamic world adopted a decision to establish the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) in order to serve the needs of the OIC member countries in all aspects of sports activities. In 1985 and at the initiative of President of Youth Welfare of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the OIC invited the NOCs and Youth and Sports governmental organizations in Muslim countries to attend the constituent assembly for the foundation of the ISSA in the Saudi Arabia. Representatives of 34 Muslim countries attended this assembly and ratified the ISSA statute. Under the guidance of the Government of the Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Fahd announced the allocation of the ISSA headquarters to be at the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee complex in Riyadh city. He also announced the allocation of an annual subsidy from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the administration of the ISSA.
1980: Decision of Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1981: 3rd Islamic Summit Conference in Mecca 1985: ISSF Formally Established 2005: Inaugural Islamic Solidarity Games 2023: The organization Rebranded from ISSF to ISSA
Members 57 nations (29% of the world countries) from 4 continents:
Europe (3): Albania, Azerbaijan, Türkiye Asia (25): Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq ,Jordan ,Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen Africa (27): Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda South America (2): Guyana, Suriname
Crest
ISSA Presidents S.No. Name Country Tenure 1. Prince Faisal bin Fahd 8 May 1985 – 7 February 2000 2. Prince Sultan bin Fahd 7 February 2000 – 3 October 2011 3. Prince Nawaf bin Faisal 3 October 2011 – 4 December 2014 4. Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud 4 December 2014 – 20 November 2017 5. Turki Al-Sheikh† 20 November 2017 – 28 December 2018 Acting Colonel Hamad Kalkaba Malboum 28 December 2018 – 8 April 2019 6. HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud 8 April 2019 – present †Turki bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh resigned on 28 December 2018.
ISSA Executive Board The ISSA shall be steered by an Executive Board composed of 17 members, 13 of whom shall be elected directly by the General Assembly. The composition shall be as follows: The President, one vice-president and two members from each continent i.e. Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America. Secretary General and Treasurer shall be nominated by the headquarters country and approved by the General Assembly. One representative of the OIC is appointed by the OIC Secretary General. One representative of the country hosting the next edition of Islamic Solidarity Games but without voting rights. The mandate of the Executive Board membership shall be of four years and renewable. Following is the current Executive Board serving 2017 – 2021 term. Designation Name CountryPresident HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud 1st Vice-President Colonel Hamad Kalkaba Malboum 2nd Vice-President Dr. Chingiz Huseynzade 3rd Vice-President General Ahmed Mohamed Fouly 4th Vice-President Nihat Usta Secretary General Nasser Ayman Majali Treasurer Abdulaziz bin Saad Al-Dallak Board Member Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol General Idriss Dokony Saeed Abdulghaffar Hussain Salim Ssenkungu Musoke Indra Gamulya Ammar Brahmia Nasser Ayman Majali Omar Diagne Representative of OIC Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet Representative of Palestine General Jebral Al-Rojoob Representative for Women & Sports Mrs. Konul Nurullayeva Representative of 6th ISG 2025 HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Al Saud
Games Islamic Solidarity Games See also Islamic Games of North America (Annual competition for Islamic Centers, Leagues, sports academies, Organizations and Muslim Schools in USA and Canada in 15 Sports and 10 Fitness Challenge since 1989) Women's Islamic Games 1980 Islamic Games Muslim World Islam by country Muslim population growth
References
External links ISSF official website