Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Baghdad hosted a mass motorsports festival on Friday, October 2, 2026, to celebrate Iraqi Sovereignty Day and National Day, organized under the auspices of Iraqi National Olympic Committee President Aqeel Muften and drawing substantial public crowds alongside national sports figures.
The festival, co-organized by the Iraqi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and secured by the Baghdad Operations Command, showcased competitive and exhibition motorsport performances to highlight domestic stability and nationwide celebrations marking the complete withdrawal of foreign forces.
Farooq Al-Rubaie, President of the Iraqi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that celebrating Sovereignty Day honors the resilience and immense sacrifices made by the armed forces and citizens over challenging decades.
Noting the passionate grassroots fanbase for motorsports across Iraq, Al-Rubaie emphasized that staging the festival serves both an athletic and patriotic duty, projecting the reality of a secure and revitalized capital. He urged local and regional media outlets along with content creators to spotlight Iraq’s stability, community engagements, and peaceful public life during major national milestones.
Baghdad Operations Command Media Director, Major General Abbas Hamid, stated to INA that Sovereignty Day—coinciding with Iraq’s National Day—reflects the sovereign resolve of the Iraqi people.
Hamid confirmed that joint security formations under the Ministries of Defense and Interior, alongside military intelligence branches, established comprehensive security perimeters around the capital to safeguard wide-ranging cultural, artistic, and athletic gatherings.
Reaffirming that Baghdad is entering an era defined by urban reconstruction and civic stability, Hamid reiterated the full readiness of security apparatuses to protect public safety and preserve social cohesion across all urban centers.
