Cardiff, Wales – UK (KRG.org) – The Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Sports and Youth yesterday met the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heritage Minister at the end of a two-day sports conference in Wales. 

Minister Taha Barwary of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) met Minister Alun Ffred Jones, whose portfolio includes sport, in the Welsh capital Cardiff. Mr Barwary said, “Our meeting was inspiring, productive and concrete. We discussed ways to improve sports administration, management and promotion, as well as how to cement our ties with Wales and other autonomous regions around the world.” 

The two-day sports conference was co-hosted by the KRG Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Sports Council Wales. Experts from Wales, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Catalonia, Samiland, England and Denmark discussed administration, funding, sport for youth, women and people with disabilities, and sport in post-conflict regions. 

Mr Barwary said, “The conference produced some key recommendations, and I am delighted that the Sports Council Wales will visit the Kurdistan Region next year.” Mr Colin Jackson, the Welsh Olympic silver medallist, also said that next year he wants to see Kurdistan for himself. 

The conference strengthened the Kurdistan Region’s ties with other autonomous regions and attracted the British national media, including the BBC. It also received messages of support from KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani; UK Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe ; Wilfried Lemke the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace; and HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, UN Messenger of Peace and International Olympic Committee member. 

Visit the sports conference website www.mosy-conference.info