The delegation of the ICYF Secretariat representing the OIC Youth Capital Selection Committee visited Shiraz (IRI) – the candidate city for the OIC Youth Capital 2017 on 28-30 August 2016. In the framework of the visit the delegation held working meetings with the representatives of the Fars Province and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Islamic Republic of Iran and examined the facilities of the city for hosting the OIC Youth Capital Programme in 2017. Mr. Seyed Mohammad Ali Afshani, the Governor of the Fars Province of Iran received the delegation on 29 August and reiterated full readiness of the city for hosting such an important international programme serving development and unity of youth of the OIC geography. Mr. Elmaddin Mehdiyev, Director General of Cabinet of ICYF on behalf of the ICYF leadership and Secretariat thanked the Governor for interest to host the programme in Shiraz and conveyed the satisfaction of the delegation with high interest towards the programme and facilities of the city. The visit ended up with signing of the Protocol containing the commitment of the city of Shiraz to host the progamme in 2017 and defining the roles and responsibilities of the parties in case of selection of Shiraz as the OIC Youth Capital 2017.
Shiraz is one of the 4 candidate cities to host the OIC Youth Capital 2017, along with Putrajaya (Malaysia), Bandung (Indonesia) and Fez (Morocco).