Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States sign partnership with ICSS
With the growing need to develop a coordinated international effort to confront the many challenges to safety, security and integrity in sport, the Cooperation Council for Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) has signed a new agreement with the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to help safeguard sport across Turkic Speaking States.
As part of the new agreement and its growing portfolio of work with international organisations, governments and sport governing bodies, the ICSS and its Save the Dream initiative will work with the Turkic Council in the area of Youth and Sport, as well as sport safety, security and integrity, and will see the two organisations develop a range of projects in this area with Turkic Council member states.
With the Turkic sport sector growing rapidly and the region hosting a growing number of major international sporting events, including the recent 2015 European Games in Baku, the ICSS-Turkic Council agreement will also look to encourage socio-economic development through sport, enhance legacy factors of major sporting events and encourage the implementation of international tools, including the ICSS-Sorbonne Guiding Principles.
The agreement, which follows on from the Turkic Council’s participation at the Inter-Regional Sports Policy Summit in Lisbon in March 2015, will also aim to promote and encourage the highest organisational and ethical standards in sport throughout Turkic Council member states, which include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.
Speaking on the agreement, Amb. Ramil Hasanov, Secretary General of the Turkic Council, said:
“After the Fifth Turkic Council Summit at the level of Heads of State, hosted by Kazakhstan on 11 September 2015 in Astana, the Council has increased its efforts to promote cooperation in the field of Youth and Sport among its members. Member States decided to dedicate the next Summit to be held in Kyrgyzstan to the theme of “Youth and National Sports” and this year will especially be devoted to the activities on Youth and Sport.
Sport empowers and inspires many people and communities across the Turkic region. It is part of the fabric of our society and teaches many important lessons and values to young people.
“With many growing global challenges facing the safety, security and integrity of sport, it was essential for the Turkic Council to partner with international experts in this area, like the ICSS, who are one of the leading global organisations helping to safeguard sport.”
Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS President, said:
“I would like to thank the Turkic Council for engaging the ICSS and I applaud them for the leadership and vision that they have shown in the fight to safeguard sport.
“Home to more than 110 million people and a burgeoning sports market, member states in the Turkic Council are now developing a powerful voice in world sport and on the international stage.
“With the growing global challenges now facing the safety, security and integrity of sport, the ICSS looks forward to supporting the Turkic Council and, through our Save the Dream initiative, help member statesto develop a more coordinated international effort to protect young athletes and sport in the future.”
