Kurdistan Region to pursue Wales onto the rugby pitch

Tuesday, 9 December 2008; London - The Kurdistan Region in Iraq today revealed its ambitions to create a rugby powerhouse in the heart of the Middle East - inspired by Wales' international success.

A senior delegation from the Region - that suffered so much at the hands of Saddam Hussein - is in Cardiff this week to host a two-day international sports conference with the Sports Council Wales, and open a new chapter in their troubled history.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Taha Barwary, Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Sport and Youth, said:

"When people think of the Middle East or the Kurdistan Region, they think of war not sport - and we're determined to change that.

"When it comes to rugby, Wales is really showing us how it should be done - whether it's beating teams like Australia and England on the international stage, or promoting sport at grassroots level through junior sides.

"We will take our enthusiasm for rugby home with us - and through mutual support and collaboration, we hope one day to see a Kurdistan Regional team romping home to victory on the rugby pitch."

Over two days the conference is playing host to representatives from key bodies in regional and international sports, and debating the critical challenges faced by regions wanting to develop a strong culture of sporting success.

Despite its difficult past, the Kurdistan Regional Government hopes the conference will mark the beginning of partnerships and exchange opportunities between UK-based sporting bodies and sports organisations in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, and even entice visitors to the country.

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