Top Kurdistan Region delegation attends 25th Gulf Cup in Basra
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A top delegation from the Kurdistan Region, headed by President Nechirvan Barzani, on Friday visited Basra city to attend the 25th Gulf Cup opening ceremony.
“It is an important event for Iraq. Since 2003, this is the most important event in Basra. We are a delegation from Kurdistan, coming here to congratulate Basra,” President Barzani told reporters.
He was accompanied by Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani governor as well as other officials.
A large number of people from the Region have also visited Basra to attend the ceremony, with some wearing Kurdish traditional clothing.
The Iraqi national team played Oman hours after the tournament kicked off but none of them scored any goals. The tournament will continue until January 19.
Basra had been selected to host three previous editions of the Gulf Cup since 2010 but the venue was changed each time due to concerns that Iraq was not safe enough.
Tens of thousands of avid football fans have flocked to Basra from all across the Arabian Gulf to attend matches of the prestigious tournament.
Despite the country’s constant state of political instability and disunity, the Iraqi population’s special connection to the sport of football has managed to unify the people at times of major regional and international tournaments, coming to the support of the national team regardless of their humble results.
“It is an important event for Iraq. Since 2003, this is the most important event in Basra. We are a delegation from Kurdistan, coming here to congratulate Basra,” President Barzani told reporters.
He was accompanied by Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani governor as well as other officials.
A large number of people from the Region have also visited Basra to attend the ceremony, with some wearing Kurdish traditional clothing.
The Iraqi national team played Oman hours after the tournament kicked off but none of them scored any goals. The tournament will continue until January 19.
Basra had been selected to host three previous editions of the Gulf Cup since 2010 but the venue was changed each time due to concerns that Iraq was not safe enough.
Tens of thousands of avid football fans have flocked to Basra from all across the Arabian Gulf to attend matches of the prestigious tournament.
Despite the country’s constant state of political instability and disunity, the Iraqi population’s special connection to the sport of football has managed to unify the people at times of major regional and international tournaments, coming to the support of the national team regardless of their humble results.