Kurdistan declare their sporting aim to become 'the Wales of the Middle East'

9 December 2008; London - The Kurdistan Region in Iraq today declared that when it comes to sport, they would like to become known as the Wales of the Middle East.

Ministers and senior officials from the region are in Cardiff this week to host a two-day international sports conference with the Sports Council Wales, and top open a new chapter in the history of this war-torn region.

Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Sport and Youth, Taha Barwary said:

"After years of suffering under Saddam, we are a region rebuilding itself and determined to break with the past - and sport is a powerful way to do that.

"Just like the Welsh, we are a proud people. Wales punches above its weight when it comes to sport - whether as individual athletes competing as part of Team GB, or the Welsh rugby team scoring victory on the international stage.

"Both in professional sports and in encouraging grassroots participation, we believe we have a lot to learn from the Welsh."

The conference will play host to representatives from key bodies in regional and international sports, and will debate the critical challenges faced by regions wanting to develop a strong culture of sporting success.

Welsh Sports Minister Alun Ffred Jones, who will meet Taha Barwary during his visit, said:

"2008 has been an excellent year for Welsh sport and the decision by the Kurdish Regional Government to hold this conference here in Wales is an acknowledgement of how well we perform, for a nation of our size, on the international sporting stage.

"Wales has a long and very proud history of competing against other nations across the spectrum of sport and I hope those attending the conference are able to learn from the Welsh experience."

Despite its troubled past it is hoped that the conference will mark the beginning of partnerships and exchange opportunities between UK-based sporting bodies and sports organisations in the Kurdish Region in Iraq, and even entice visitors to the country.

Minister for Sport in the UK Parliament, Gerry Sutcliffe said:

"We've all seen the power that sport has to bring people together throughout the world, and nowhere was this more apparent than at the Beijing Games this summer.

"It's great to see that the Sports Council for Wales has formed a partnership with the Kurdistan Regional Government to discuss issues around sporting excellence and participation. I'm sure the conference will provide a useful platform for delegates to share learning and experiences and I hope it is a productive event for all involved."

In addition to the Taha Bawary and the Chair of the Sports Council Wales Phillip Carling, the conference will see speakers ranging from renowned BBC sports correspondent Mihir Bose, to Olympic medal-winning Welsh athlete Colin Jackson.

Also present, will be a number of representatives of Kurdistani communities living in the UK and Europe, not least Shaho Qadir, one of the fastest rising stars in disabled sport.

Notes to Editors

1. Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region in federal Iraq. It borders Syria to the west, Iran to the East and Turkey to the north. The Kurdistan Regional Government is at present led by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. The democratically-elected Kurdistan National Assembly holds legislative power in the region.
2. Kurdistan Regional Government, in collaboration with Sports Council Wales, is hosting an international sports conference on 9 and 10 December 2008 at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff.
3. Titled 'Regional sport, international participation - the role of regions in building a legacy of sporting participation and excellence', the conference will examine how to establish enduring frameworks to encourage all levels of sporting activity - from grassroots to international level - in federal and devolved regions, including those affected by conflict.
4. iv. The conference will focus on five themes:
   • The role of sport in post conflict nations
   • Building social capital through sport - women, disabled and youth sport
   • Increasing grassroots and elite participation in sport
   • Regional sports funding and administration
   • How regions compete internationally
5. Sports like football are already popular in Kurdistan. At the club level, the Kurdish club Arbil FC has won the Iraqi Super League two years running and will compete in the Asian Champions League. At the national team level, despite a great willingness to compete internationally the Kurdistan Region team is not yet affiliated with FIFA or the Asian Football Federation.
6. The Regional Government is investing in creating new sports facilities and infrastructure across Kurdistan, and hopes to increase levels of public involvement in other sports popular in the region – including volleyball, athletics, wrestling, hockey, and skiing.
7. More information on Kurdistan Region and the Ministry of Sports and Youth can be found at www.krg.org and www.mosy-krg.org