By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Organizers of the Islamic Solidarity Games have suggested that British athletes could be allowed to participate in future editions of the event, which features 57 nations competing in various sports. This possibility comes as the governing body, the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), seeks to expand the Games’ international audience and is considering inviting new countries to join.
The latest edition of the Games is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November. Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, who also serves as the president of ISSA, the organization aims to grow the event’s global reach.
“It would be great quality sports. It would be interesting to see,” said Nasser Majali, Secretary-General of the ISSA, during an interview in London on Wednesday. “It depends on the appetite, it depends on what we are able to do based on sustainability. But having good quality sports competitions is always welcome.”
Currently, the Games are limited to the 57 countries that make up the ISSA, all of which are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). These countries, spread across four continents, are religiously diverse. Members include nations like Albania, Nigeria, and Guyana, where Muslims make up a small percentage of the population around 7% in Guyana and 6.5% in England and Wales.
Majali emphasized that athletes at the Islamic Solidarity Games could belong to any religion or none at all. For example, the first Jordanian to win a gold medal at the 2017 Games was a Christian swimmer. While the Games are currently exclusive to ISSA members, Majali noted that “you don’t know how \[participation] can be done in the future.”
The Islamic Solidarity Games are set to be a key milestone in Saudi Arabia’s preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and possibly an Olympic bid. The event will highlight Riyadh as a growing hub for international sporting events. The Games will feature the construction of an athletes’ village in Saudi Arabia for the first time, and could include events held in public spaces, similar to the Paris Olympics held last year.
Majali, a former Secretary-General of the Jordanian Olympic Committee, praised Riyadh’s status as a major sports destination. “You’ve got excellent quality competitions happening all the time there. It’s become second nature to deliver such events, and the quality is spectacular. From my point of view, it is a destination for sports events. And a major one at that.”
As Saudi Arabia continues to position itself as a key player in the global sports arena, the future of the Islamic Solidarity Games looks promising, with possibilities for wider participation and an even greater international presence.