... because the female athletes clothing does not characterize Islamic values... "Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The third Islamic Solidarity Games that will take place in South Sumatra capital of Palembang on September 22 through October 1, 2013 will only compete men's volleyball as part of 13 sports in the event.
"Eight countries will participate in the indoor volleyball match," executive chairman of the Palembang chapter of the Indonesian Volleyball Association, Rahidin H Anang said here on Friday.
According to him, the volleyball sport match had been confirmed after Palembang was assigned to host the third Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) instead of Riau province.
"Such decision has responded the people's question that the organizing committee will not perform the women's beach volleyball, because the female athletes clothing does not characterize Islamic values," he said.
The volleyball match will take place in the Jakabaring beach volleyball arena which is usually used for international events, he noted.
Meanwhile the indoor volleyball match will be held in Palembang Sports Convention Center.
"Some athletes from the participating countries are expected to arrive in Palembang on August 19," he said, adding that 13 sports namely athletics, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, wushu, taekwondo, karate, gymnastics, swimming, badminton, soccer, tennis, and weightlifting will be competed during the ISG event.
The number of athletes ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 from 25 countries are expected to take part in the ISG.
In the meantime, the South Sumatra local administration has submitted a proposal to change the logo of the third Islamic Solidarity Games with new icon displayed Palembang's Ampera bridge.
"We proposed to change the logo, because in current logo, it is still displayed the icon of Riau province before the government decided to appoint South Sumatra as the host," according to the Vice Chairman of South Sumatra National Sports Committee Maryamah here on last Thrusday.
Islamic Solidarity Games as a multi-sport event is held every four years for the 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Maryamah explained the final design of the new logo will be finished in the near future.
In addition to ISG logo, the local administration will propose to change the mascot of ISG.
"Mascot is an important part in such international sports competition. South Sumatra has a number of alternatives, considering the local administration had done the same thing in SEA Games in 2011 and the ASEAN Student Sports Week in 2014," Maryamah explained.
The government picked South Sumatra as the host of ISG, replaced Riau Province after the meeting of Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Roy Suryo, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, and other related officials on Tuesday (July 2) in Jakarta.
Reporting by Dolly Rosana
(B003)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
