The 2nd International Congress on Sports and Sustainable Development was held on May 13-15, 2026, hosted by the University of Halabja and in cooperation with the University of Kurdistan. The objectives of this conference were to present the latest scientific achievements and specialized research findings in fields related to sports sciences, including sports psychology, sports physiology, physical education, training science, sports pathology and rehabilitation, measurement and evaluation, sports management, motor learning, sports biomechanics, public health, and artificial intelligence in sports. This international congress commenced with welcoming remarks from the organizers and specialized reports, during which a video message from the esteemed President of the University of Kurdistan was broadcast for the attendees at the opening ceremony.

It is worth noting that 8 faculty members from the Department of Sports Sciences at the University of Kurdistan participated in this international event to take part in specialized panels, deliver presentations, and conduct posters and specialized workshops.

On the sidelines of this conference, other avenues of cooperation, such as student exchange and research collaboration opportunities, were discussed, which in the near future, with the assistance of the International Relations Office, will lead to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the University of Kurdistan and the University of Halabja. It is noteworthy that the successful cooperation of the University of Kurdistan in organizing the 2nd International Congress on Sports and Sustainable Development encouraged other universities in Iraqi Kurdistan, such as Soran University, to propose cooperation for holding similar events. In recognition of the University of Kurdistan's services in organizing the 2nd International Congress on Sports and Sustainable Development, the representative of the University of Kurdistan received a commemorative plaque/statue from the Minister of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Region.