Microsoft will be an official supporter of the multinational, multisport Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, according to AzerNews. Elite athletes from countries belonging to the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will participate in the event, which is organized by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) and will be held from May 12 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Microsoft will provide the software, equipment and branding for the Baku 2017 Skype Zone. This initiative will enable medal-winning athletes from all 57 ISSF member nations to celebrate their success with friends and family, courtesy of Microsoft’s video-calling platform.
With three cameras recording their every reaction, the Skype Zone will help bring interesting personal stories from the games to viewers. Athletes’ conversations will be recorded by a webcam, as well as by cameras from behind the laptop screen and behind the athlete’s shoulder.
The initial ten-minute videos will be cut down to 90-second clips and shared online via Baku 2017’s social media channels: Facebook.com/baku2017, Twitter.com/Baku2017isg and Youtube.com/Baku2017.
“We are delighted that such a globally recognized brand as Microsoft has agreed to be an official supporter of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games,” said Elchin Safarov, director of Baku 2017’s operation committee, mayor of the athletes’ village, and ambassador of volunteers.
“The Baku 2017 Skype Zone breaks new ground and provides fans with a fantastic opportunity to share in the emotion of the athletes reacting to and celebrating their success with friends and family,” he added.
“Microsoft corporation is proud [to be] a partner [contributing] to the major sport[ing] event… In the future, we intend to support the implementation of projects of national importance through our innovative technological approach,” said Sarkhan Hashimov, general director of Microsoft in Azerbaijan.
Microsoft became the 7th official supporter of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games alongside iTicket, Fresco, Milla, Red Bull, Azersun and Nestle. The opening ceremony will take place on May 12.
Athletes from Muslim countries around the world will be representing their nations over ten days of competition across 20 different sports, including athletics and para-athletics, diving, swimming, water polo, basketball 3×3, football, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, wushu, table tennis, handball, judo and blind judo, Greco and freestyle wrestling, shooting, tennis, volleyball, boxing, zurkhaneh, karate, taekwondo and weightlifting. The games will be held in 16 modern venues in Baku.
Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku was awarded the games at the General Assembly of the ISSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2013.
The first games were held in 2005 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, while the second was originally scheduled to take place in 2009 in Tehran, Iran before its cancellation. The third games took place in 2013 in Palembang, Indonesia.
In 2005, a total of 355 medals were awarded, 108 of which were gold. Saudi Arabia came first with 24 gold medals, followed by Egypt with 14, and Kazakhstan with 13.
In 2013, 600 medals were presented, 183 of which were gold. Indonesia came first with 36 gold medals followed by Iran with 30. Egypt came third with 26 gold medals but surpassed Iran in the total number of medals awarded.
Who will be the first in Baku 2017 God willing ?