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Athletes and officials from Egypt (R) lead other teams as they parade at Jakabaring stadium for the opening ceremony of the 3rd Islamic Solidarity Games in Palembang on September 22, 2013. The Islamic Solidarity Games got under way in Indonesia on September 22 despite a chaotic run-up to the event and debates over appropriate outfits for Muslim athletes. (Getty Images)
The Islamic Solidarity Games in Indonesia have been rocked by controversy over female athletes competing in sports bikinis.
Some of the participating nations have made a demand for all women taking part in beach volleyball, track and field, and swimming events, to cover up fully. The organisers though, have refused to impose any such restriction on two-piece clothing worn by female athletes at the event, reports TOI.
“If some countries do not want to use the bikini, that’s fine, but if other countries want to, we will allow that,” senior organising committee member Djoko Pramono said.
“We agreed to apply international rules, including the dress code.”
Athletes from over 44 nations with a significant Muslim population will come together for the Islamic Solidarity Games. However Pramono added that it was primarily the countries ruled by Islamic governments that were opposing the move as against the general majority.
The complaining countries were not mentioned by name though.
This year marks the second edition of the games, with the event being held in Saudi Arabia last year. In that event, not only were bikinis outlawed, but men and women were made to compete on separate days and during the women’s swimming competitions men were barred from poolside.
Some of the participating countries have again asked the organisers that male and female events be held on separate days.
Pramono when quizzed, said that he did not know the identity of the teams that had indeed decided to wear bikinis.
In the past players from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have worn the two-piece clothing at international competitions without any objections.
The event started yesterday and it is set to run until October 1, 2013.
The controversy regarding the clothing is the latest in a series of setbacks to the organisers of the event.
The event was supposed to be held at Pekanbaru, but unpaid labourers ensured that that project didn’t see the light of day.
Jakarta was then chosen as the host city, but was shifted again to Palembang, the current venue, after Sumatran officials made a hue and cry over it.
The Palembang complex was host to the 2011 Southeast Asian Games saw incomplete facilities and widespread cases of food poisoning. Two football fans were also crushed to death in a stampede at the venue after the crowd got beyond the control of the security guards present.
Pramono though, assuaged any fears that existed regarding the event and was optimistic about a successful completion to the event, free from incident.
“Everything is progressing, and I’m sure all 13 sports will be a success,” he said.
