World Beach Games nixed after host Bali pulls out
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More than 100 Olympic member countries were due to take part in the second edition of the games.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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JAKARTA – The 2023 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games have been cancelled after the Indonesian island of Bali pulled out as host a month before the event’s scheduled start, the organisers said on Tuesday.
The withdrawal at such short notice left no time to find a suitable replacement host, ANOC said in a statement posted on the event’s official Instagram account.
“There is no option but to cancel this year’s edition of the Games in Bali in August as well as the ANOC general assembly,” it said.
“A decision will be taken in the coming weeks regarding a new location and dates” for the general assembly, ANOC added.
Bali’s local organising committee (LOC) said it decided to withdraw as host after its budget for the Games “was not released” by the Indonesian government, according to ANOC.
More than 100 Olympic member countries were due to take part in the second edition of the Games, which includes beach and watersports like volleyball, surfing and aquathlon.
Around 1,500 athletes had been set to compete in 14 sports across 41 medal events. Doha hosted the inaugural edition in 2019.
“ANOC is very disappointed by the LOC’s actions, which will deny athletes from 100 qualified national Olympic committees from fulfilling their ambitions of competing at the Games,” it said.
“While there have been challenges in the Games preparations, as at any major multi-sport event, ANOC had been regularly assured by the KOI (Indonesian Olympic Committee) that solutions would be found and the Games would go ahead as planned,” it added.
The Games’ status was already cast in doubt after local media reports said Bali Governor Wayan Koster would refuse to support Israel’s presence if it was confirmed to take part.
“I remain consistent in refusing the Israeli team’s participation in the 2023 World Beach Games in Bali,” he was quoted as saying.
The ANOC cancellation statement made no mention of Bali’s stance on Israeli participation.
Indonesia’s stance on Israel has led the International Olympic Committee to warn sports associations about considering the nation for hosting duties. The global sporting body said in June that it had told ANOC to “look at this situation very closely” with regard to the World Beach Games.
Indonesia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations and support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation runs high.
In March, Indonesia lost the hosting rights to football’s Under-20 World Cup after Mr Koster expressed opposition to Israel’s participation, with their games set to be played on the resort island.
The tournament was instead hosted by Argentina in May and June, with Israel recording their best result, finishing third.
AFP, REUTERS
