Islamic Solidarity Games Participants Reach 38 Countries

Jakarta (Antara) - The number of participating countries of the third Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) rose to 38 countries from the previous 25 ones, following the issuance of new presidential decree relating to the ISG implementation, a minister said. The increasing number of ISG participants occurred with regard to certainty stipulated in the presidential decree on the ISG number 23/2013 as of July 2013 as a change of Presidential Decree number 15/2012, Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo said here on Wednesday. "The new presidential decree (Keppres) becomes a legal basis to conduct the ISG in Palembang (South Sumatra). Meanwhile, the Presidential Decree number 15/2012 was a legal basis for the ISG implementation in Pekanbaru, Riau," he said. According to him, the ISG removal from Pekanbaru to Palembang because the former was not ready to host the international event. The minister also said, Riau was replaced due to its inadequate sports facility that reflected its inability and unpreparedness to hold the ISG. In addition, Riau Governor Rusli Zainal who was also the ISG organizing committee chairman, had been named a suspect in a graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The increasing number of participating countries in ISG is an official information issued by the Islamic Solidarity Games Federation (ISSF), Suryo said. "I have received the report from ISSF about the participants. Some countries have registered directly to join ISG and several others have registered through internet. This is such a great progress," he said. (*)