MEDIA GUIDE
OPENING CEREMONY
12 May 2017
Baku Olympic Stadium
Knowledge
Information in this media guide is
embargoed until 22:00 (Baku time)
on 12 May 2017.
During the Ceremony there are some
things we’d like to keep secret for the
audience until the moment they’re
revealed, so please don’t spoil the surprise!
Introduction
Words of welcome
2
Azerbaijan at a glance
6
Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games
7
Ceremony overview
Key points
8
Scene by scene
Opening Ceremony
12
Credits
Principal performers
61
Baku 2017 Executive
62
Ceremonies team
63
Sponsors66
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
01
HRH Prince Abdullah
Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz
Azad Rahimov
Minister of Youth & Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Chief Executive Officer, Azerbaijan Islamic Solidarity Games
Operations Committee
President, Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation
The Games will
see competitors
from four
continents come
together in the
spirit of peace and
respect, providing
inspiration for
spectators of
all faiths and
nationalities.
Friends from all over the world, welcome to Baku for the fourth
edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games.
The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation is committed to harnessing
the power of sport to foster understanding and unity across the
Islamic world.
Sport brings together participants and spectators in an atmosphere
of cooperation and community, and provides the foundation for lasting
bonds of friendship. The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games will see
competitors from four continents come together in the spirit of peace
and respect, providing inspiration for spectators of all faiths and
nationalities.
I would like to thank the people of our wonderful host nation –
Azerbaijan – and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for her
leadership as Chair of the Baku 2017 Organising Committee. Azerbaijan
is passionate about sport, and has shown unwavering commitment to
hosting an event of the highest standard. I have no doubt that these
Games will be a credit to the hard work and commitment of Baku 2017’s
organisers and volunteers, and that our athletes will be provided with
the perfect conditions in which to excel.
The Games are the
culmination of
over 20 months of
careful planning
and preparation,
and we are ready
to host thousands
of athletes at 16
state-of-the-art
sporting venues.
Tonight, it’s Azerbaijan’s privilege to welcome athletes and spectators
from across the Islamic world to Baku, a beautiful city that has been
transformed over the last five years by the power of sport.
This evening’s Ceremony will be an unforgettable celebration of unity
and solidarity, as Azerbaijan honours its heritage while continuing to
build a reputation as a centre for international exchange and major
sporting events, including the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this summer
and UEFA European Football Championship matches in 2020.
The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games are the culmination of over
20 months of careful planning and preparation, and we are ready to
host thousands of athletes at 16 state-of-the-art sporting venues.
Over the coming 10 days, you will enjoy competitions across 20
different sports, from popular Olympic events such as Gymnastics
and Wrestling, to up-and-coming sports such as Wushu and Azerbaijani
Zurkhaneh, to fully integrated Para Athletics and Blind Judo events.
It is this commitment to inclusion and solidarity that will inspire
the athletes of the future, and I look forward to seeing the values
of friendly competition and fair play come to life at Baku 2017.
I would like to wish all our athletes the best of luck as they embark on
what will be 10 days of excellent sporting competition.
02
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
03
Our Ceremony is
a universal story
of peace rooted
in the culture
and traditions
of Azerbaijan.
A timely reminder
of the enormous
contributions
Islamic civilisation
has made to
everything we see
and do today.
Catherine Ugwu
Nathan M. Wright
Director of Ceremonies & Executive Producer
Artistic Director
These Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku come at a critical moment
in world history. A time marked by uncertainty and discord, when
our differences seem to divide rather than unite us. Tonight, our
Ceremony seeks instead to focus on what brings us together, as
nations and as people.
Ours is a universal story of peace rooted in the culture and traditions
of Azerbaijan. A timely reminder of the enormous contributions Islamic
civilisation has made to everything we see and do today. A tale of
solidarity and hope filled with optimism for our collective future.
Thousands of people from across the world have worked many months
to make this Ceremony a reality – I’d like to thank them all for their
creativity, passion and commitment.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the First Vice President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Baku 2017 Organising Committee,
Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Minister of Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov.
Without their trust and support, none of this would have been possible.
Finally, a huge thank you to the people of Azerbaijan. This is truly
a country of shining stars who represent the very best of the human
spirit. I hope tonight we make you all proud.
04
At the heart of
our Ceremony is
a little girl from
Baku, Mina.
Her story is a
celebration of
the power of
community and
unity. A wish, for
a better world
living in peace
and harmony.
Tonight, I am proud to share with you ‘Knowledge’ – the Opening
Ceremony of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.
At the heart of our Ceremony is a little girl from Baku, Mina. We follow
her on a journey of discovery, guided by her friendly kite. Along the
way she learns about her identity and heritage, her beliefs and dreams.
By the end, her hope for the future is all-embracing, her joy an
inspiration. Mina’s story is a celebration of the power of community
and unity. A wish, for a better world living in peace and harmony.
Creating this Ceremony – living and working in beautiful Baku,
learning about the rich culture of Azerbaijan and the extraordinary
accomplishments of Islamic civilisation – has been a true privilege.
I would like to thank the thousands of performers and the Ceremonies
team who have brought my story to life with their talent and dedication.
Working alongside you all has been a pleasure.
For more than a year now, I have been moved and inspired by the
generosity and warmth of the people of Azerbaijan. I hope I have
captured the spirit of your wonderful country. Tonight’s Ceremony
is yours to enjoy.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
05
Azerbaijan at a glance
Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games
Azerbaijan, the largest country in the Caucasus
region, is located at the crossroads of Western
Asia and Eastern Europe. Its eastern coastline
is bounded by the Caspian Sea – the world’s
largest enclosed inland body of water.
In July 2013, Baku was announced as the
host city for the fourth Islamic Solidarity
Games – an exciting multi-sport event
uniting the Islamic world.
The Azerbaijan Islamic Solidarity Games
Operations Committee (AISGOC) will organise
and run the Games in cooperation with
the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).
Athletes from more than 50 Islamic countries
will come together from 12 to 22 May 2017
to represent their nations over 10 days of
competition across 20 different sports.
They include 24 disciplines (Athletics and
Para Athletics, Aquatics: Diving, Aquatics:
Swimming, Aquatics: Water Polo, Basketball
3x3, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics: Artistic,
Gymnastics: Rhythmic, Handball, Judo and
Blind Judo, Karate, Shooting, Table Tennis,
Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting,
Wrestling: Greco-Roman, Wrestling: Freestyle,
Wushu and Zurkhaneh) in 16 state-of-the-art
competition venues across Baku.
Azerbaijan has always had a passion for sport
– recently hosting the Baku 2015 European
Games – and its investment in Baku 2017 will
pay dividends in the future as the country
hosts further events.
A land of plentiful natural resources, age-old
culture and deeply engrained hospitality,
Azerbaijan has always played a vital role in
the region. It’s a nexus of ancient historical
empires. But also a new nation – independent
since 1991 – and a youthful country, with
40% of the population aged under 25.
Azerbaijan enjoys a booming economy that
achieved the second highest GDP growth in
the world between 2000 and 2010. The boom
is largely driven by natural resources, but
there are also growing agriculture, tourism
and events industries.
Nine out of 11 climate types are present in
Azerbaijan – from semi-deserts to mountain
tundras. At the extremes, temperatures can
reach 46°C and drop as low as -33°C.
Food is deeply rooted in the history, traditions
and values of the nation. Aside from wonderful
soups and kebabs, one of the most widespread
dishes is the rice-based plov. Pomegranates – a
symbol of unity – are also a feature of the cuisine.
06
The cosmopolitan capital, Baku, sits on the
shores of the Caspian Sea surrounded by
semi-desert. Its Walled City, on UNESCO’s
World Heritage List, is ringed by burgeoning
new skyscrapers yet, barely a few hours’ drive
away, timeless rural villages are backed by the
soaring Caucasus mountains.
RECENT AND FORTHCOMING
MAJOR EVENTS IN AZERBAIJAN
In 2015, the inaugural European Games
and the Chess World Cup were held in Baku.
The following year, Azerbaijan hosted the
World Chess Olympiad, Arena Polo World Cup,
UEFA European Under-17 Championship and
AGF Trophy World Cup 2016 Rhythmic
Gymnastics Finals.
Looking ahead, in the summer of 2017 the
Azerbaijan Grand Prix will see Formula 1
cars racing through the streets of Baku for the
second year running; and later in the year, the
Women’s European Volleyball Championship
will be held in the city. In 2020, Azerbaijan
will host the European Karate Championship,
plus three group stage football matches and a
quarter-final of the UEFA Euro Championship
at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
The Organising Committee was set up by
decree of Ilham Aliyev, President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, under the leadership
of Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan.
10 competition days
16 venues
20 sports
24 disciplines
50+ teams
269 medal events
1,585 medals
2,800 athletes from four continents
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
07
Ceremony overview: key points
Facts & stats
• T
he Opening Ceremony of the fourth Islamic
Solidarity Games is another landmark event
for Azerbaijan and the international sporting
community. Created by world-leading
Betty Productions Ltd – led by Director
and Executive Producer, Catherine Ugwu
– and international artistic, production and
technical teams, it promises to be moving
and memorable.
• The Ceremony is brought to life by 2,200
volunteer performers from Azerbaijan.
They are joined on stage by more than
40 animals – horses, camels and donkeys.
kilometres of blackout fabric used to
create the stage backdrop that transforms
the stadium into a theatre.
• The music heard in tonight’s Ceremony
– performed by more than 100 world-class
musicians – features works written by
more than a dozen Azerbaijani composers,
including the legendary Uzeyir Hajibayli,
Fikret Amirov and Gara Garayev.
7 megawatts of generator power are used
for the Ceremony.
• T
he Ceremony tells a universal story of peace
and hope, and celebrates the enormous
contribution Islamic civilisation has made
to everything around us. Springing from the
age-old culture of Azerbaijan, it follows a
little girl and her kite on an inspirational
journey of knowledge and discovery.
aku Olympic Stadium has been transformed
• B
into an enormous theatre space equipped
with a state-of-the-art projection system.
• T
he stage design – an interlaced pattern
of circles forming a central hexagon in
tribute to the extraordinary geometric
designs characteristic of Islamic art –
features two minarets, each 28m high.
• Two world-renowned performers from
Azerbaijan are with us in the Stadium this
evening: mugham vocalist Alim Qasimov
and percussionist Natig Shirinov (see
biographies p61).
• The set took six weeks to build, but it will
take just 24 hours to take it all down so that
the stadium is ready for the Athletics
(16–20 May).
6
75 kilometres of power cable and
130
projectors with 2.3 million lumens
of projection capacity.
300+ speakers and 12 kilometres of
cabling for the Stadium sound system.
Closing Ceremony
Gilavar: Monday 22 May
Rooted in the country’s elemental landscapes,
the Closing Ceremony explores Azerbaijan’s
beautiful heritage and takes a joyous look
at the city of winds, Baku, where the gentle
breeze of the Gilavar warms our hearts with
positive change. Together we will celebrate
the great achievements of our athletes and
share the spirit of the Games – unity and
solidarity – with the world.
For more information on Ceremonies
visit baku2017.com
1,000+ lighting fixtures connected
by 60 kilometres of cabling.
3,000
tonnes of air, land and sea
freight came from 17 countries to create
the Ceremony.
3,000+ cast in-ear headpieces keep
everyone in the loop.
• More than 5,000 people from 31 different
countries have helped make the Baku 2017
Ceremonies a reality, including production
staff, technical crew and cast.
• T
he vast screen (85m wide by 35m high) is
filled with rich video content developed over
many months – from hyper-real animations
to stunning cinematic sequences.
08
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
09
Knowledge: scene by scene
Ceremonies team
Director of Ceremonies
& Executive Producer
Catherine Ugwu
Artistic Director
Nathan M. Wright
Producer
Kate Hinchliffe
Head of Business & Finance
Mark Smith
Lighting Designer
Adam Bassett
Costume Designer
Tim Chappel
Music Director
Mike Dixon
Aerial Choreographer
Phil Hayes
12 Countdown
14 Salaam
16 Glorious Land
Visual Content Director
Richard Lindsay
18 Journey from the Caspian
Head of Choreography
Michael Peña
22 ISSF Flag & Games Oaths
Production Designer
Joanna Scotcher
Audio Designer
Scott Willsallen
20 Athletes of the Islamic World
24 Let the Games Begin
26 Unity
28 Harmony
30 Identity
32 Belief
34 Purity
See biographies p63-65.
36 Knowledge
50 Dream
52 Joy
54 Hope
56 Inspiration
58 Peace
10
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
11
Countdown
Duration 00:03:45
Overview
A kite takes to the air in Baku’s Old City.
It catches the attention of a little girl, Mina,
and her friends, who chase it through the
city all the way to the Stadium.
We then welcome the official party:
We see some of Baku’s iconic landmarks: the
Flame Towers, Maiden Tower, Philharmonia
Garden, the Heydar Aliyev Centre and, finally,
the Olympic Stadium.
Mehriban Aliyeva
First Vice President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan
and
Chair of the Baku 2017
Organising Committee
Inside the Stadium children hold kites with
numbers counting down from 10 to one.
Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen
Secretary General of the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
12
Action
Background notes
In a video, a flying
kite leads us from the
Old City through Baku
to the Stadium.
Baku Olympic
Stadium sits on
the shores of Lake
Boyukshor, the
second largest lake
in Azerbaijan with a
surface area of 9.2
square kilometres.
Water from natural
sources across
Azerbaijan will play
a central role in
tonight’s Ceremony,
as a symbol of unity.
Inside the Stadium
children holding
numbered kites count
down to the start of
the Ceremony.
Fireworks ignite
behind each child as
we go from 10 to one.
Cast
Facts & stats
Mina and her kite are
our heroes tonight –
we will follow their
story.
6
Once the countdown
is complete, we
welcome the official
party.
Music
Yashar Bakhish’s
‘Morning in Baku’.
The number of girls
specially trained to
dance, act and fly
as Mina. All are
highly-skilled
young athletes,
and members of
Azerbaijan’s
national rhythmic
gymnastics team.
See biographies p61.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
13
Salaam
Duration 00:03:53
Overview
Cast
Music
Action
Background notes
With a proud and open heart, Azerbaijan
welcomes the Islamic world – more than
50 nations coming together in the spirit of
peace and understanding.
700 volunteer
performers fill the
stage. They hold
reflective hexagons
to create a series
of shapes.
Eldar Mansurov’s
‘Azerbaijani Dances:
Yalli’.
The cast form a
crescent moon
and star.
Hexagon patterns,
such as the
honeycomb, are
among the strongest
naturally-occurring
structures.
The cast form the
Baku 2017 logo.
Facts & stats
In the Islamic calendar, a crescent moon
marks the start of each new month. These
Games signal a fresh chapter in the long
history of our solidarity and cooperation.
We have gathered here in Baku as friends,
to celebrate and strengthen all that unites us.
They are joined by
10 male dancers from
the Azerbaijan State
Ensemble, who
perform with
7-metre-long silks.
The cast flip their
hexagons to reveal
the flag of Azerbaijan.
14
The 700 hexagons
that come together on
stage tonight represent
the Baku 2017 Games
motto: solidarity is
our strength.
15
2,200
the number of
cresent moons that
appear in the flags of
participating teams,
including the flag of
the Islamic Solidarity
Sports Federation.
Crescent moons also
top our two minarets.
the number of
volunteer performers
who appear on stage
tonight.
700
115,000+
hexagons on stage in
this sequence.
the number of meals
served to cast during
rehearsals.
12
the number of weeks
of rehearsal for the
volunteers.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
15
Glorious Land
Duration 00:04:17
Overview
Music
Azerbaijan. Famed ‘land of fire’. Youthful
yet rooted in age-old culture. Blessed with
extraordinary landscapes and great natural
riches. Filled with pride for the past and
promise for the future. In the words sung
by all her people – a glorious land.
The national anthem
of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, known
as the ‘March of
Azerbaijan’, was
composed in 1919
by Uzeyir Hajibayli
with words by
Ahmad Javad.
Action
Tonight we hear a
version orchestrated
by Rauf Aliyev and
performed by the
Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra.
The flag of Azerbaijan
is carried by eight
and raised by three
servicemen of the
National Guard of
the Special State
Protection Service.
It’s then raised as
the national anthem
plays.
Background notes
The three stripes
of the Azerbaijani
flag symbolise:
Turkic heritage
(blue), progress and
democracy (red),
and pride in Islamic
civilisation (green).
The Azerbaijani flag
that flies in Baku,
on the shores of the
Caspian Sea, is one
of the largest in the
world – 35 x 70m.
It tops a 162m high
flagpole.
Facts & stats
11
members of the
armed forces carry
and raise the flag.
16
Fireworks shoot from
the Stadium roof in
the national colours
of Azerbaijan.
15
height in metres of
the flag pole inside
the Stadium.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
17
Journey from the Caspian
Duration 00:05:43
Overview
Cast
Action
Background notes
Almost 40 days ago, waters from the shores
of the Caspian were sent throughout the
country by the President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan – Ilham Aliyev – to bring the
Games closer to everyone. In return, crystal
waters collected by children from lakes and
rivers, waterfalls and springs across the land
are united here tonight.
On stage tonight are 16 children of Azerbaijan:
A video on the screens
shows the Journey
from the Caspian
Launch Ceremony,
and children collecting
water from locations
of great natural
beauty across
Azerbaijan.
The Baku 2017
Water Vessels,
beautifully crafted
in three sizes
from smooth and
hammered copper,
were inspired by
Azerbaijani metalworking techniques
and traditional vessel
designs from across
the Islamic world.
Azerbaijan and her people welcome the world
to the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.
From Baku
Hayat Allahverdiyeva
From Nakhchivan
Murad Aliyarov
From Astara
Mirrahil Agayev
From Shirvan
Sama Aliyeva
From Sabirabad
Tahir Guliyev
From Agjabedi
Fatima Shirinova
From Horadiz city,
Fizuli
Zenfira Zalova
From Ganja
Aysu Salahova
Music
Rovshan Asgarzade’s
‘Opening Theme’ and
Azad Valiyev’s
‘Towards the Sun’.
18
From Shamkir
Murad Namazov
From Mingachevir
Isfandiyar Karimov
From Gakh
Ayshan Huseynova
From Gabala
Shafiga Bayramzade
From Gusar
Matin Badalov
From Guba
Gunel Gonagova
From Garadagh
Mirakram Baghirli
From Sumgayit
Salim Imranli
The children of
Azerbaijan enter
holding copper
vessels, and pour the
waters of Azerbaijan
into the large copper
bowl on stage.
A pyrotechnic
waterfall ignites
behind the children.
The Journey from
the Caspian began on
5 April 2017 with the
Launch Ceremony at
the Stone Chronicle
Museum in Baku, and
ends here tonight at
the Olympic Stadium.
Facts & stats
8
diameter in metres
of the copper water
bowl in the centre of
the stage.
Journey from
the Caspian
3,000+ kilometres
37 days
16 locations
visiting 5 lakes,
1 reservoir, 3 rivers,
1 spring, 3 waterfalls,
and the Caspian Sea
125 copper vessels
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
19
Athletes of the Islamic World
Overview
Music
Here with us in Baku from four continents,
walking together in solidarity – the athletes
of the Islamic world.
The Parade includes
Azerbaijani pop songs
by:
Sabina Askerova
Abbas Bagirov
Brilliant Dadashova
Kamil Estem
Natavan Habibi
Elnur Huseynov
Aygun Kazimova
Farid Mammadov
Sahil Umud ft.
Narmin Karimbayova
Zamiq
After years of training, dedication and sacrifice,
this is their moment. Thousands of women and
men will enter 16 sporting arenas to compete
for more than 1,000 medals across 20 sports
and 10 days. Their excellence, their friendship,
their respect for one another inspire us all.
Our joyous Parade sees teams from more
than 50 countries enter the Stadium (in
English alphabetical order) and concludes
with the athletes of Azerbaijan – proud host
of the Games.
Each team is led into the Stadium by their flag,
a man holding a placard designed to look like
an Islamic armillary sphere (see p41) – a tribute
to the distances the athletes have travelled
round the globe to be here tonight – and a
woman carrying a Baku 2017 Water Vessel.
20
Baku-born,
Natig Shirinov is
considered one of
the greatest naghara
drum players of our
time. This evening,
with his Natig
Rhythm Group,
he performs ‘Four
Seasons’ and ‘Sticks’
for the entrance of
Team Azerbaijan.
See biographies p61.
Facts & stats
2,800
athletes will compete
at Baku 2017.
Duration 00:55:00
Action
Parade of Athletes
Each team is led into
the Stadium by their
flag, a placard bearer
and a water bearer
holding a copper
vessel.
Teams enter the Stadium in English
alphabetical order. The host nation,
Azerbaijan, conclude the Parade.
Natig Shirinov and
another 19 drummers
perform as Team
Azerbaijan enter the
Stadium. The group
play on to close the
Parade.
50+ teams.
130 volunteers
welcome the athletes.
The flags of the
Baku 2017 Islamic
Solidarity Games
fly together.
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Benin
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Chad
Comoros
Côte d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Gabon
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Morocco
Mozambique
Niger
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Suriname
Syria
Tajikistan
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Azerbaijan
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
21
ISSF Flag & Games Oaths
Duration 00:05:00
Overview
Flagbearers
Action
Background notes
This evening, athletes from more than 50
nations are united under one banner that
represents them all – the flag of the Islamic
Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).
Ten outstanding sporting champions from
Azerbaijan.
The ISSF flag is
carried into the
Stadium by 10
Azerbaijani sporting
champions.
The Islamic
Solidarity Sports
Federation (ISSF)
– a section of the
Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) – is responsible
for the direction and
control of the Islamic
Solidarity Games.
The flag is carried into the Stadium by 10
sporting champions from Azerbaijan, each
of them an inspiration.
It is then handed to 10 members of the armed
forces and raised by three additional members.
They are all servicemen of the National Guard
of the Special State Protection Service. The
ISSF flag flies beside the flag of the host
nation – the Republic of Azerbaijan.
One athlete and one referee from Azerbaijan
then take oaths on behalf of everyone
participating in the Games, pledging honour
and fair play, honesty and integrity.
Namig Abdullayev
Freestyle Wrestling
Olympic gold medallist
at Sydney 2000
Irada Ashumova
Shooting
Olympic bronze medallist
at Athens 2004
Nazim Huseynov
Judo
Olympic gold medallist
at Barcelona 1992
Elnur Mammadli
Judo
Olympic gold medallist
at Beijing 2008
Farid Mansurov
Greco-Roman
Wrestling
Olympic gold medallist
at Athens 2004
22
Zemfira
Meftahatdinova
Shooting
Olympic gold medallist
at Sydney 2000
Movlud Miraliyev
Judo
Olympic bronze medallist
at Beijing 2008
The ISSF flag is
raised by servicemen.
Lyudmila Shubina
Handball
Olympic gold medallist
at Montreal 1976
Music
Benjamin Britten’s
‘Young Person’s Guide
to the Orchestra’.
Niyamaddin Pashayev
Taekwondo
World Championship
gold medallist
at Jeju 2001
Rafiga Shabanova
Handball
Olympic gold medallist
at Montreal 1976
The OIC is the
world’s second largest
inter-governmental
organisation (after the
United Nations), and
has a membership of
57 states across four
continents.
Oaths are taken on
behalf of all the
athletes and referees.
Oath takers
Radik Isayev
Taekwondo athlete
Olympic gold medallist
at Rio 2016
Fuad Aslanov
Boxing referee
Olympic bronze
medallist
at Athens 2004
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
23
Let the Games Begin
Duration 00:07:30
Overview
Background notes
Action
After 20 months of careful planning
and preparation involving the dedicated
efforts of thousands, everything is ready.
Our athletes are here. The moment has
come to open the Games.
Baku is a key city
on the world stage,
attracting landmark
international events
such as the inaugural
European Games
in 2015.
Speeches by Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and
Chair of the Baku 2017 Organising Committee;
Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen
Secretary General of the Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation.
Mehriban Aliyeva
First Vice President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan
and
Chair of the Baku 2017 Organising Committee
delivers a speech in Azerbaijani and English.
Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen
Secretary General of the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
delivers a speech in English.
The Games are then declared open by the
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev.
Let the Fourth Islamic Solidarity Games begin!
Texts of the speeches will be available
to download from the media extranet.
24
In 2020, three group
stage football matches
and a quarter-final
of the UEFA Euro
Championship will
be held here in the
Baku Olympic
Stadium.
This summer the
Azerbaijan Grand
Prix will see Formula 1
cars racing through
the streets of Baku.
Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan, declares the Games open.
Music
Facts & stats
Fanfares for speeches
and the opening of
the Games by
Mike Dixon.
12,500
pieces of pyrotechnics
are used during the
Ceremony.
200
hours of programming
to sychronise the
fireworks with the
music.
Fireworks explode from the Stadium roof,
spelling out ‘Baku 2017’ and lighting up
the night sky.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
25
Unity
Duration 00:01:43
Overview
Cast
Water is essential. It gives life to every living
thing. To embrace and accept is its nature.
And it has a quiet power. With patience and
persistence, water can smooth the hardest
stone. United, our many nations can share
these qualities – solidarity is our strength.
57 volunteer
performers from
Azerbaijan carry
copper vessels
filled with waters
representing the
57 members of the
Islamic Solidarity
Sports Federation.
Tonight, the waters of more than 50 Islamic
countries join together as a symbol of our
world living in harmony. This is the source
of our story.
26
Background
notes
Baku is famous for
its fountains, found
in squares and parks
across the city.
Fountains Square
alone boasts more
than five, and there
are two musical
fountains along the
seaside Boulevard.
Music
Facts & stats
Gara Garayev’s
‘Seven Beauties,
(Dance of the
Maghrebian Beauty)’.
8
diameter in metres
of the copper water
bowl in the centre of
the stage.
Action
A woman enters through the doors on to the
stage, holding a copper water vessel. Earlier
this evening, she led the Azerbaijani team into
the Stadium.
She is joined by the other 56 water bearers
from the Parade of Athletes. Together they
represent the 57 members of the Islamic
Solidarity Sports Federation.
The women pour water into the bowl, which
becomes a beautiful fountain. The Islamic
world is symbolically united.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
27
Harmony
Duration 00:03:13
Overview
Cast
Facts & stats
Action
Our story begins.
120 cast join Mina in
Philharmonia Garden,
including 20 members
of the Azerbaijan
State Children’s
Philharmonic.
85 x 35m
Mina’s grandfather adds a ribbon to
her kite.
Mina’s grandfather is
played by Nuraddin
Mehdikhanli, a
renowned stage
and film actor and
People’s Artist
of the Republic
of Azerbaijan.
See biographies p61.
months taken to
create the projections,
ranging from hyperreal animations to
stunning cinematic
sequences.
Mina, a little girl from Baku, plays in
Philharmonia Garden with her grandfather.
He completes the kite she’s holding by adding
a fourth ribbon to its tail.
She explores the beautiful park, sharing
laughter and light with everyone and
everything around her. Happy, she wonders
how to bring peace and harmony to the
whole world.
Her grandfather explains: to change the path of
our future, we must first understand our past.
And so he sends Mina on an exciting journey of
knowledge and discovery, with the kite as her
friendly guide.
12
Background Music
notes
Farhad Badalbeyli’s
An urban oasis
established in the 19th
century beside the
walls of Baku’s Old
City, Philharmonia
Garden today has a
beautiful fountain at
its heart.
28
the width and height
of the projection
screen, lit by 130
projectors.
‘The Sea’.
Philharmonia Garden comes to life as
Mina explores and plays.
Mina waves goodbye to her grandfather
and, with her kite, leaves on a journey of
knowledge and discovery.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
29
Identity
Duration 00:04:33
Overview
Cast
Facts & stats
Action
Background notes
Mina magically flies far from Baku with her
kite, across the ancient land of Azerbaijan to
discover the age-old petroglyphs at Gobustan.
4 aerialists hanging
from large spiral
structures fly with
Mina.
9
Mina flies through the
air with four other
performers, who hang
from spiral structures
and spin with silks, as
the Gobustan
petroglyphs are
revealed on screen.
Recognised by
UNESCO for their
outstanding universal
value, the Gobustan
petroglyphs are
among humankind’s
first attempts to
understand and
record the world.
Soaring over glorious landscapes, with
eternal fires that burn from the ground at
the Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanar Dag,
Mina enters the world of myth to meet the
simurgh, a fantastical bird of many colours
that she helps to hatch from its egg.
Mina leaves with a beautiful feather – a gift
from the grateful simurgh. If our little girl
is ever in danger, burning the feather will
bring her wondrous new friend to her side
in an instant.
70 women perform
with feathers.
20 performers do
amazing acrobatic fire
tricks.
Music
Niyazi’s ‘Rast’
symphonic mugham.
kilometres of aerial
lines in the flying
system with a
capacity to carry
more than 5 tonnes.
5
months of aerial
training to play Mina.
70
2-metre-long feathers
appear on stage.
Mina finds the
simurgh’s egg and
helps the chick to
hatch. She leaves
with one of the
simurgh’s feathers.
The simurgh is a
mythical creature
of Islamic literature
said to possess the
knowledge of all the
ages. Powerful and
benevolent, she is a
guardian of heroes.
The buta is an
ancient almondshaped design
symbolising fire and
found on Azerbaijani
decorative artworks
and architecture.
Fire is a longstanding
and important facet
of Azerbaijani
identity. The element
appears in the very
name Azerbaijan,
which means ‘land of
fire’ or ‘protector of
the flame’.
Twenty people
perform with fire,
and lines of fire ignite
in two pools to form
buta shapes.
30
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
31
Belief
Duration 00:04:36
Overview
Cast
The crescent moon rises over the Caspian
and the mesmerising voice of Alim Qasimov
– legendary mugham singer of Azerbaijan
and the world – rings out from the top of
a minaret.
Alim Qasimov,
People’s Artist of
Azerbaijan, is a
living legend of the
mugham tradition,
and one of the
world’s great singers.
He was awarded
the prestigious
International Music
Council – UNESCO
Music Prize in 1999.
See biographies p61.
This is the call to prayer. It draws Mina
towards the Heydar Mosque, a magnificent
place of devotion and tolerance where all
denominations of Islam can pray together
in unity.
Hundreds more people, holding lamps, are
drawn in by the power of Islam. The flames
of their faith flicker and swirl before Mina’s
eyes like stars in a galaxy.
Music
Islamic call to prayer
arranged and
performed by
Alim Qasimov.
Background
notes
The Heydar Mosque
in Baku is the largest
in the Caucasus
region. Completed
in 2014, it was
constructed in just
two years.
Facts & stats
28
height in metres of
the two minarets
either side of the
stage.
Action
Alim Qasimov sings the call to prayer
from the top of a minaret.
Mina is drawn towards the Heydar
Mosque. She is joined by hundreds of
people holding lamps. Beautiful illuminated
patterns are formed by the moving lamps.
260
people perform, each
holding a lamp.
Alakbar Taghiyev’s
‘You Didn’t Come’
plays as we see the
intricate interiors of
the Heydar Mosque
on screen.
32
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
33
Purity
Duration 00:02:20
Overview
Music
Facts & stats
Action
Water has a great power, to cleanse. In Islam,
it forms an essential part of prayer, a path to
purity of body and spirit. We are all different,
but the rituals and knowledge we share bind
us together.
Jane Antonia
Cornish & Daniel
Heath’s ‘Written in
the Stars’.
3
A film plays on the
screens showing
people of all ages
from across the
Islamic world going
about the rituals
of daily life.
Wherever we come from or go, whatever our
colour or gender, however old we are or young,
water is a universal connection. It reminds us,
across great distances and in all our diversity,
that we are united in our beliefs and our
humanity.
34
locations where
filming took place for
tonight’s Ceremony:
Azerbaijan, Australia
and the Philippines.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
35
Knowledge
Duration of Knowledge scenes 00:11:04
Overview
And now, a new adventure.
Mina travels back in time and across the world
to come face to face with intrepid travellers,
ornate domes, enchanting poets, the universe
beyond our planet, and ingenious mechanical
devices. These are among the treasures of
the Islamic Golden Age when extraordinary
advances in human civilisation were made
in areas such as exploration, architecture,
literature, astronomy and invention.
Facts & stats
The Islamic Golden Age, roughly the
7th to 17th centuries, was a period
of tremendous cultural and scientific
advancement, bursting with ideas and
inventions that shaped our world.
In the hands of the open-minded and curious,
Islamic civilisation became a vehicle for
unprecedented intellectual discovery, and
the Golden Age left its mark on just about
everything. The books we read, the music
we play, the words we speak, the numbers
we count, the buildings we use, the science
we depend on – all were shaped, at least in
part, by Islam.
Music
570
40+
32
people perform
in Knowledge.
animals – horses,
camels and donkeys
– appear in this
section. Trained
for three months
to perform in the
Ceremony, they are
looked after in stables
built specially for
them at the Stadium.
bicyles are used to
move some of the
larger scenic items
on and off the stage.
Fikret Amirov’s
‘One Thousand and
One Nights’ is heard
throughout this
tribute to the Islamic
Golden Age.
Islamic civilisation was multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural, optimistic, curious and
literate, brimming with cutting-edge
science and technology.
36
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
37
Knowledge: Caravanserai
Overview
Background notes
Action
Mina’s journey begins in a bustling
caravanserai – a place where the flow of
commerce, culture and knowledge spread
across a network of trade routes covering large
parts of Asia, North Africa, Europe and the
Middle East.
Carpets have been
made in Azerbaijan
since the 2nd century
BC. Their geometric
patterns, vivid colours
and craftsmanship
are recognised around
the world. In 2010,
UNESCO added
Azerbaijani carpet
weaving to their list
of Intangible Cultural
Heritage.
Mina arrives on stage on a white horse.
Over 70 performers, a large trade wagon, live
horses and camels, and puppet eagles and
hawks bring the scene to life.
Elements drawn
from the cultural
heritage of every
nation participating
in the Games all play
their part in this
celebration of the
Islamic Golden Age.
They appear on stage
as characters, scenic
pieces, props and
costumes, as well
as on screen.
38
Three traditional
Azerbaijani musical
instruments appear
in this scene: a wind
instrument called a
balaban, the stringed
kamanche played
with a bow, and a
folk drum with a
double head called
the naghara.
16 horses perform in unison, creating a
pin-wheel and crossing paths.
Facts & stats
300+
props give a sense
of time and place,
including: carpets
and fabrics, musical
instruments,
miniature paintings,
books and scrolls,
tea and coffee,
fanous lanterns,
fruit, salt and nuts,
coins and gems,
miswak toothbrushes,
and perfume bottles.
Mina, carrying her kite, interacts with the
caravanserai traders and travellers. She stops
to admire Azerbaijani carpets and musical
instruments.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
39
Knowledge: Exploration
Overview
Background notes
Action
Flying through the air on her loyal kite,
Mina has much to learn.
Nizami Ganjavi
(1141–1209) was
celebrated for his
romantic epic poetry
and wisdom
literature.
Dhows, traditional sailing vessels with
distinctive triangular sails, were originally
used for simple tasks, such as fishing. As the
Arabian and Islamic population expanded and
began an intense system of trade with the rest
of the known world, the use of dhows also
grew and they were adapted for commerce.
In the words of Nizami Ganjavi, one of the
great poets of Azerbaijan and the world…
Seek knowledge, for through knowledge
you’ll close and open every door.
Whoever is not ashamed to learn
draws pearls from the water,
rubies from the rock.
During the Islamic Golden Age, people loved
to travel and learn.
Seafarers developed maps and course-plotting
instruments, and became master navigators
– important for both discovering more about
the world around them and building strong
trade routes.
40
Notable works
include The Five
Jewels (Khamsa): five
long narrative poems,
including Leyli and
Majnun.
Facts & stats
3
4
diameter in metres of
the kite Mina sits on,
flying through the air.
height in metres of
the armillary sphere.
30
diameter in metres
of Al-Idrisi’s circular
map, unfurled by 16
performers.
sails, between 2.5 and
4m high, are carried
or cycled onto the
stage to recreate
dhow boats.
15
One of Islam’s greatest astronomical
contributions was the perfection of the
armillary sphere. It was used to tell time,
predict sunrises and sunsets, survey land and
calculate the height of buildings. It was the
equivalent of a medieval calculator.
One of the most famous maps from the period
was produced in 1154 by cartographer,
Al-Idrisi – circular, it’s drawn with south
at the top as was common for the time.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
41
Knowledge: Architecture
Overview
Islamic civilisation revolutionised world
architecture with the development of domes,
minarets, caravanserai and madrasas –
providing places of communal gathering,
stately residence and humble homes.
Over time, the easy movement of artisans
led to the exchange of artistic ideas and
techniques. Creative impulses were channeled
towards decoration and ornamentation in
all forms of artistic expression – ordered
repetition, radiating structures and rhythmic
patterns, striking calligraphy, exuberant
decoration and rich colours.
42
Facts & stats Background
notes
9
height in metres of
the large blue dome.
Baku has recently
continued, and
contributed to, this
legacy of Islamic
heritage: the city
added to its own fine
array of architecture
by building the
stunning Heydar
Mosque in 2014 –
the largest mosque
in the Caucasus.
Action
Islamic architecture is utterly distinct:
a skyline of minarets and domes. We see a
large blue dome on stage tonight, framed
by our two minarets.
Smaller domes and arches feature exquisite
fretwork – interlaced geometric designs
common throughout Islamic architecture.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
43
Knowledge: Literature
Overview
Cast
Facts & stats
Action
Islamic civilisation – based on the sacred text
of Islam, the Quran which means ‘the reading’
– greatly valued literature. A particular kind
of literature became its hallmark: ‘Adab’,
which came to imply the sum of intellectual
knowledge that makes one courteous and
urbane.
Acrobatic horse
riders trained at the
Equestrian Federation
of Azerbaijan perform
for us tonight.
3
A large spiral of books represents the House of Wisdom, an intellectual
powerhouse in Baghdad during the 9th to 13th centuries that played a
major part in the spread and development of knowledge.
During the Golden Age, literature wasn’t
just confined to the elite and educated; oral
performances of stories of the Prophets and
tales from One Thousand and One Nights
found large audiences among ordinary people.
The tales’ variety and geographical range of
origin – including modern day Iran, Iraq,
Egypt and Turkey – make single authorship
unlikely. More likely, the work was collected
over many centuries by various authors,
translators and scholars.
As Islam spread beyond Turkic, Arabic and
Persian speaking regions, the literature of
Islamic civilisation came to include works in
languages as diverse as Swahili and Chinese.
height in metres of
the three large books
on stage.
5
great Golden Age
poets of Azerbaijan
are celebrated in
tonight’s Ceremony:
Fizuli
Imadaddin Nasimi
Khaqani
Mahsati Ganjavi
Nizami Ganjavi
Al-Farabi, a renowned 9th-century polymath, stands on the book spiral.
He spent most of his life in Baghdad and established logic within Islamic
culture, which earned him the name ‘the Second Teacher’, Aristotle
being ‘the First’.
Ali Baba runs from the 40 thieves and makes his thrilling escape on
horseback. The folk tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is one of the
most famous from One Thousand and One Nights.
Large books on stage are tributes to great writers of Islamic civilisation.
Omar Khayyám (born 1048 in Nishapur, present day Iran) was a
mathematician, astronomer and poet, renowned in his own country and
time for his scientific achievements, and today for his influential poetry.
Mahsati Ganjavi (born 1089 in Ganja, Azerbaijan) is known for her
philosophical and love quatrains (rubáiyát), glorifying the joy of living
and the fullness of love.
44
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
45
Knowledge: Astronomy
Overview
Cast
Facts & stats
Action
During the Islamic Golden Age, scholars and
scientists used observatories and instruments
– such as astrolabes, quadrants and sextants
– to study the heavens. They refined the
prevailing knowledge of their times to use the
sky as a tool for understanding time, space and
humanity’s place in the cosmos.
24 female dancers
from the Azerbaijan
State Ensemble
perform in cloaks
printed with star
charts.
8.5
A giant model of the solar system is created on stage with the sun,
the earth and moon, and five more planets.
Astronomers recorded and named more than
1,000 stars during the period. Today 166 stars
are known worldwide by their Arabic names.
height in metres the
sun rises above the
stage.
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were visible to the
unaided eye and therefore known to astronomers during the Golden
Age, before the invention of the telescope. Uranus and Neptune
were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Bicycles on stage celebrate the quadrant.
The quadrant was one of the most important astronomical
and navigational instruments used by scientists and scholars in
Islamic culture. It was used to determine the height of a celestial
body above the horizon.
Large wheels show the phases of the moon.
Scientists and scholars of the Golden Age understood that lunar
phases – the shape of the illuminated portion of the moon – change
as the moon orbits the earth, and the moon’s rotation is tidally locked
by earth’s gravity. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
46
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
47
Knowledge: Invention
Overview
Facts & stats
Action
Working collaboratively, Golden Age men and
women from different regions, cultures and
backgrounds built upon the knowledge they
drew from previous civilisations and, in turn,
passed on their achievements for the benefit
of future generations.
90
Cogs feature here in honour of the mechanical
inventions and turbine technologies of the
Golden Age.
One of the greatest inventors and mechanical
engineers of the time was Al-Jazari. His Book
of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices
(1206) describes 100 pieces of equipment.
height of the Elephant
Clock in metres.
Among the most intriguing is the Elephant
Clock – a towering work of mechanical
innovation. It features Greek water-raising
know-how, an Indian elephant, an Egyptian
phoenix, Arabian figures and Chinese dragons.
Today we would regard it as a celebration of
global diversity.
48
total number of cogs
featured on stage,
including geared
cogs on bicycles.
9
A variety of highly-accurate astronomical
clocks for use in mosques and observatories
were constructed during the period, including
the first geared clock.
By the 11th century, mills operated throughout
the Islamic world. The invention of water
turbines meant many industrial tasks were
mechanised.
The Elephant Clock appears, carrying two
performers, and all the action freezes.
Mina, sitting on her flying kite, drops a ball
representing the moon into the serpent’s
mouth and the Elephant Clock activates.
The serpent tips down to reset the mechanism,
and Knowledge comes to an end…
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
49
Dream
Duration 00:05:43
Overview
Cast
Music
Action
Background notes
A sudden sandstorm sweeps everything from
the stage.
24 female dancers
from the Azerbaijan
State Ensemble
perform in cloaks
during the sandstorm.
Arif Melikov’s
‘The Legend of Love’.
During the
sandstorm, Mina
burns the feather
given to her by the
simurgh.
In folklore, the
simurgh acted as a
guardian of heroes,
who were given
magical feathers to
burn in moments of
distress or desperate
need, to call her.
The simurgh comes to
Mina’s aid. Together
they fly over glorious
landscapes.
Facts & stats
Mina is left feeling lost and afraid for the first
time on her journey. But she has the feather
of the simurgh and in a flash of flame her
fantastical friend appears, flying down to her
aid. Mina is lifted high into the sky to safety
– above the storm, above the clouds, up among
the constellations.
When we help one another, we are free to
dream, to become the best we can be.
We can reach the stars.
15
the simurgh’s
wingspan in metres.
750
weight of the simurgh
in kilograms.
Gold-dust shimmers
off the wings of the
simurgh. In the end
she disappears into
the starry sky.
50
785
number of little
lights, like stars, on
the simurgh’s body.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
51
Joy
Duration 00:02:21
Overview
Background notes
Action
Everything she has learned about her culture
and faith, her heritage and self has Mina
bursting with joy – all thanks to the beautiful
kite, her constant companion on this
adventure.
Gymnastics has
steadily grown
in popularity in
Azerbaijan in recent
years. The country
regularly hosts
European and
World Gymnastics
Championships at the
National Gymnastics
Arena in Baku.
Mina dances with
the kite.
As the pair dance together in friendship,
Mina thinks of her grandfather. She misses
him. The time has come to head home.
Cast
Music
Facts & stats
Three puppeteers
bring the kite (and its
tail) to life.
Uzeyir Hajibayli’s
‘Ashug-style’.
5
52
different forms are
taken by the kite on
Mina’s journey: from
a small handheld one,
to a 7-metre-long
engineered aerial
piece. The puppet
kite we see here is
2.5 metres in
diameter.
The six promising
and highly-skilled
rhythmic gymnasts
who play Mina are
already representing
Azerbaijan at
international
competitions.
The kites use carbon
fibre technology, a
lightweight material
used by NASA that is
stronger than steel
by cubic centimetre.
Mina pulls a ribbon
from the kite’s tail
and performs a
rhythmic gymnastics
routine.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
53
Hope
Duration 00:03:46
Overview
Flying through Baku with her kite,
Mina sees her birthplace in a new light.
Beyond the pretty city parks where she
plays, Mina finds many beautiful buildings,
old and new. Proud historic palaces and
towers at the city’s heart, as well as
architectural masterpieces of the modern
day – places of culture and commerce,
thrilling sport and entertainment,
cutting-edge enterprise and learning.
Her future is here. Home for Mina is a
place of hope.
Baku buildings that appear on screen:
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Nizami Street
Maiden Tower
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Palace of Marriage Registration
(formerly the Palace of Happiness)
Government House of Baku &
Seven Beauties Musical Fountain
Heydar Aliyev Centre
Heydar Aliyev International Airport
Baku Aquatics Centre
Caspian Waterfront Mall
Baku Crystal Hall
Flame Towers
National Flag Square
Baku Olympic Stadium
Action
Background notes
We begin at the
Carpet Museum,
on the shores of
the Caspian Sea.
The Azerbaijan
Carpet Museum,
completed in 2014,
houses an extensive
collection of worldrenowned Azerbaijani
carpets, proclaimed
‘Masterpieces of
Intangible Heritage’
by UNESCO.
A performer in a
flowing white dress
mirrors the swooping
lines of the Heydar
Aliyev Centre.
Having seen more
than a dozen
architectural gems
across the city, the
action ends at the
Baku Olympic
Stadium.
54
The Heydar Aliyev
Centre in Baku is
an award-winning
building for
contemporary culture
designed by Zaha
Hadid and completed
in 2012.
The ‘land of fire’
inspired the iconic
Flame Towers
– three distinctive
buildings on a hillside
above Baku’s Old City,
completed in 2012.
The magnificent Baku
Olympic Stadium,
completed in 2015,
can seat 68,700
spectators and is
the perfect setting
for major football
and athletics
championships, as
well as large-scale
concerts and events.
Music
Gara Garayev’s
‘Seven Beauties,
Waltz’.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
55
Inspiration
Duration 00:03:43
Overview
Cast
Facts & stats
Action
On her thrilling journey, Mina has discovered
her identity and beliefs, understood the
fundamental unity of humankind, and
gathered the gift of knowledge from her
heritage. She has caught sight of her dreams,
felt the joy of real friendship, and filled her
heart with hope for the future.
700 performers
holding kites in
the colours of
Azerbaijan’s flag –
blue, red and green.
180,000
Mina flies above 700
performers holding
kites. Hundreds of
thousands of tiny
hexagon kites flutter
down over the
audience.
Overflowing with the light of all she has
learned, Mina wants to share the shining
spirit of the kite with the world. And there
is more than enough inspiration for everyone.
10 performers spin
on Catherine wheels,
including four in
the air.
20 fire perfomers.
Music
Vasif Adigozalov’s
‘Piano Concerto No. 4’
56
litres of water in the
two pools on stage.
10
height in metres the
water jets on stage
reach up into the air.
150
kilos of confetti in the
shape of tiny hexagon
kites falls over the
audience.
Catherine wheels on
the ground and in the
air ignite and spin,
as fireworks light up
the night sky above
the Stadium.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
57
Peace
Duration 00:07:34
Overview
Music
And so we are back where our story began,
to the quiet of Philharmonia Garden.
We say goodbye
to Mina and her
grandfather to the
sounds of Farhad
Badalbeyli’s
‘The Sea’.
Mina is happily reunited with her proud
grandfather. Grateful for her new-found
knowledge, she sends her friendly guide on
a new journey, to spread peace and harmony
to the whole world. The kite flies free, high
in the sky for all to see…
The Ceremony ends with incredible firework
displays over both the Stadium and the Baku
Caspian seafront.
Fikret Amirov’s
‘Azerbaijan Capriccio’
plays as fireworks
blaze over the
Stadium.
And during the
fireworks display over
the Caspian we hear
Ogtay Zulfugarov’s
‘Holiday Overture’.
Action
Background notes
Together with her
grandfather once
again after her long
journey, Mina sets her
kite free to fly out of
the Stadium.
Ten days of worldclass sport is about
to begin, with over
2,800 athletes of
the Islamic World
competing across
20 sports for more
than 1,500 medals.
Fireworks over
the Baku Olympic
Stadium.
Facts & stats
Join us on Monday
22 May for the
Closing Ceremony
of the Baku 2017
Islamic Solidarity
Games, when we
will celebrate the
great achievements
of our athletes.
5,000
hours taken to create
the spectacular
pyrotechnics displays
of the Opening and
Closing Ceremonies.
Fireworks over the
Caspian Sea, along the
Baku Boulevard.
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Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
59
Credits
Principal performers
Seljan Hazizadeh
Nazrin Jafarzadeh
Maryam Safarova
Farida Safiyarzadeh
Narmina Samadova
Eleonora Yusifova
Mina
Seljan, Nazrin, Maryam,
Farida, Narmina and
Eleonora are six promising
and highly-skilled young
athletes. As members of
the national rhythmic
gymnastics team, they’re
already representing
Azerbaijan at international
competitions. After months
of special training and
rehearsals, this is their first
appearance as actors and
aerial performers. They’re
excited to be part of the
Ceremony, and hope to
represent their country as
proud competitors at the
next Islamic Solidarity
Games.
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Nuraddin
Mehtikhanli
Grandfather
Trained at the State
University of Culture
and Arts, Nuraddin is a
renowned actor for stage
and screen. A permanent
troupe member at the State
Academic Drama Theatre
for almost 40 years, he
has appeared in numerous
theatre productions and
feature films. He was made
People’s Artist of the
Republic of Azerbaijan in
2002 for his contribution
to the arts.
Alim Qasimov
Mugham Vocalist
Natig Shirinov
Percussionist
One of the foremost
musicians and singers
in Azerbaijan, Alim is
acclaimed as a great voice
of the world. His music
is characterised by vocal
improvisation and
represents an evolution
of the traditional mugham
art form. He was made
People’s Artist of the
Republic of Azerbaijan
in 1993, and awarded the
prestigious International
Music Council UNESCO
Music Prize in 1999.
The greatest nagara drum
player to have emerged
from the Caucasus, Natig
has revolutionised nagara
percussion technique to
become Azerbaijan’s
foremost rhythm composer.
Today, he amazes audiences
with his creative energies,
award-winning
performances and
innovative compositions,
all beating to the rhythms
of his soul.
Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
61
Baku 2017 executive
Ceremonies team
Azad Rahimov
Chief Executive Officer
Nigar Efendi
Chief of Staff
Elchin Safarov
Corporate Director
Over a 30-year career, Azad
has held senior roles at the
Khatai District Committee
of the Youth Union
(Komsomol), the Youth
Organisations Committee
of Azerbaijan, Ros-Imesko,
and the Italdizain Group.
Appointed Minister of
Youth and Sport and Vice
President of the Azerbaijan
National Olympic
Committee in 2006, he
also served as CEO of the
Baku 2015 European
Games. Azad was awarded
the Olympic Order in 2014,
and the Order of Glory by
the President of Azerbaijan
in 2015.
Nigar (Nikki) has 20 years
of leadership experience at
BP. She holds two degrees:
in English Philology from
the Azerbaijan University
of Languages, and in Law
from the Russian State
Social University. She was
Business Administration
Director of the Baku 2015
European Games. Nikki
was awarded the State
Medal of Progress for her
contribution to Azerbaijan’s
oil and gas industry, and
the Honorary Diploma of
the President of Azerbaijan
for her work on Baku 2015.
Elchin started his career
as an accountant and has
over 20 years’ experience
in finance, including senior
roles in the oil industry.
He holds two degrees: in
Pedagogy from the Baku
Slavic University, and in
Finance and Credit from
the Azerbaijan State
Economic University.
Elchin was awarded the
Honorary Diploma of the
President of Azerbaijan for
his work as the Baku 2015
European Games’ Corporate
Director. He is proud father
to two Baku 2017
volunteers.
Catherine Ugwu
Director of Ceremonies
& Executive Producer
Catherine is a producer,
creative director and
consultant with more
than 20 years’ experience
delivering some of the
world’s largest and most
prestigious events. Founder
of Betty Productions Ltd,
she was most recently
Director of Ceremonies for
the Baku 2015 European
Games, and Executive
Producer of the London
2012 Olympic Ceremonies.
Other credits include the
Vancouver 2010 Olympics,
Delhi 2010 and Manchester
2002 Commonwealth
Games, and Doha 2006
Asian Games. Catherine
was awarded an MBE for
her work on London 2012,
and the State Order of
Friendship by the President
of Azerbaijan for her
contribution to Baku 2015.
Nathan M. Wright
Artistic Director
Kate Hinchliffe
Producer
Nathan is a choreographer
and director who’s worked
extensively on ceremonies,
stage and screen. Career
highlights include
choreographies for the
Sochi 2014 and London
2012 Olympic Ceremonies.
On London’s West End
he’s choreographed such
shows as High Society and
Rocky Horror, garnering
numerous award
nominations. Nathan’s film
credits include Happy Feet
as a motion capture artist
and two collaborations
with Baz Luhrmann –
the Wicked-Faced Boy
in Moulin Rouge! and
associate choreographer
for The Great Gatsby.
Kate has worked as a
producer in the creative
industry for over 10 years.
Highlights include live
events for Save the
Children, NBCUniversal,
Thomson Reuters,
Samsung, Vodafone and the
World Islamic Economic
Forum. Kate first turned
her attention to Ceremonies
at the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic
Games, and went on to
produce the Flame Capture
Ceremony and city-centre
Torch Relay of the Baku
2015 European Games.
Mark Smith
Head of Business
& Finance
Mark qualified as a
Chartered Accountant at
Deloitte before devoting
seven years of awardwinning work to the
planning, implementation
and successful delivery of
the London 2012 Olympic
and Paralympic Games,
and Handover Ceremony
at Beijing 2008. He
subsequently served as a
trusted financial advisor
at the BBC, and Head of
Finance for the Ceremonies
of both the Baku 2015
European Games and the
UAE National Day 2015
(Abu Dhabi).
Baku 2017 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and Journey from
the Caspian events created and produced by Betty Productions Ltd.
betty-productions.com
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Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
63
Ceremonies team
Adam Bassett
Lighting Designer
Tim Chappel
Costume Designer
Mike Dixon
Music Director
Phil Hayes
Aerial Choreographer
Richard Lindsay
Visual Content Director
Michael Peña
Head of Choreography
Joanna Scotcher
Production Designer
Scott Willsallen
Audio Designer
Trained at the Central
School of Speech and
Drama, Adam set up his
own design practice in
2004, creating lighting
for large-scale events,
stage and architecture.
In 2013, he joined longtime collaborator Patrick
Woodroffe to found
Woodroffe Bassett Design.
Entertainment credits
include the London 2012
Ceremonies, and concerts
for the Rolling Stones,
Lady Gaga and the Queen’s
Golden Jubilee. Adam has
also designed numerous
installations, from
exhibitions to landmark
building illuminations.
Tim is an award-winning
costume designer for screen
and stage. His designs for
The Adventures of Priscilla,
Queen of the Desert earned
him an Oscar. He went on
to work on such films as
Miss Congeniality and
The Dressmaker, and music
videos for Cher and Missy
Elliot. Turning his attention
to numerous musical
theatre productions in
Australia brought Tim
more accolades, including
a Tony and an Olivier.
Mike is one of the most
experienced and respected
musical forces in London’s
West End and on British
television and radio.
His work spans all genres
of music as conductor,
arranger and composer.
He regularly conducts the
Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra and BBC Concert
Orchestra, and has been the
original musical director/
supervisor for many
internationally-acclaimed
productions, including
We Will Rock You, The
Bodyguard, Grease and
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Phil is a veteran aerial
director, choreographer,
consultant and performer
with 13 years’ specialised
experience in harness work
for large-scale spectacles.
He’s staged flying
choreographies for
Ceremonies at the Sochi
2014, London 2012,
Vancouver 2010 and Athens
2004 Olympics, Baku
2015 European Games,
Guadalajara 2011 Pan
American Games and Doha
2006 Asian Games, and
many one-off events such
as Qatar’s 2010 Nakilat
Shipyard Inauguration
and 77 Mta Celebration.
Richard – founder of Artists
in Motion – is a renowned
creative director for
visionary experience
media. Ceremonies credits
include the Vancouver 2010
and Beijing 2008 Olympics,
Baku 2015 European
Games and Doha 2006
Asian Games. Richard has
also created visual content
for such live spectaculars
as Sydney Opera House
VIVID Live 2016, Hong
Kong Pulse 3D Light Shows
(2014-16), Clusters of
Light Sharjah (2014) and
DreamWorks’ How to
Train Your Dragon (2012).
Michael began his career
as a professional dancer
– touring with such artists
as Paul McCartney and
Rihanna – before
establishing himself as a
choreographer for stage
and screen. His Ceremonies
credits include the Sochi
2014 Olympics and Rose
Parade 2015. In 2016,
Michael choreographed
the Grand Opening of the
Shanghai Disney Resort,
a new show for Hong Kong
Disneyland, and the Italian
production of American
Idiot The Musical.
Joanna is an awardwinning production
designer based in London.
Trained at the Royal
Shakespeare Company
(RSC), her work goes
beyond the theatre stage
to encompass immersive
performance and sitespecific set design, inhabiting
spaces intimate to epic.
Joanna’s diverse output
includes commissions by
Kensington Palace, the RSC,
Old Vic and Covent Garden,
productions at the Young
Vic, Royal Court and
Roundhouse, and the Baku
2015 European Games
Flame Capture Ceremony.
Scott – director of Auditoria
Pty Ltd – is a leading expert
in audio design for major
international broadcast
events. Design credits
include Ceremonies for the
Sochi 2014, London 2012,
Vancouver 2010 and Athens
2004 Olympics, Baku 2015
European Games, Doha
2011 Pan Arab Games,
Delhi 2010 and Melbourne
2006 Commonwealth
Games, Singapore 2010
Youth Olympics and Doha
2006 Asian Games. Scott
was awarded a Daytime
Emmy for his work on
Baku 2015.
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Embargo: 12 May 2017, 22:00 (Baku time)
65
Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games and the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation
would like to thank the following companies and organisations for their support.
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS
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