Palembang to Host Islamic Games
The Indonesian government reached a surprise decision on Tuesday after a long debate on where the Islamic Solidarity Games would take place.
Palembang, South Sumatra, will host the event, bringing together more than 50 member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference between Sept. 22 and Oct. 1.
The decision was taken during a one-day meeting at the office of People’s Welfare Coordinating Minister Agung Laksono in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Agung said Palembang was the best choice for the event as the South Sumatra capital successfully hosted the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.
Senior Youth and Sports Ministry official Djoko Pekik said Palembang hosted 21 of the 44 sports at the SEA Games, most at the city’s Jakabaring Sports City, while the rest were hosted in Jakarta.
“We only have little time left, so we needed a place ready to host the Games without much preparation,” Djoko told the Jakarta Globe.
At the announcement, he said the event budget of Rp. 131 billion ($13.2 million) would remain unchanged.
South Sumatra provincial sports committee chairman Muddai Madang expressed the city’s readiness to host any international sporting event at any time.
“Jakabaring is always ready. We have been keeping the sports complex busy with sporting events since the end of the SEA Games.”
He added that the decision to move the Islamic Games to Palembang would be an honor for the city.
“For now, we are waiting for the Presidential decree that officially appoints Palembang as the host city,” Muddai said.
Source: The Jakarta Post
The decision was taken during a one-day meeting at the office of People’s Welfare Coordinating Minister Agung Laksono in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Agung said Palembang was the best choice for the event as the South Sumatra capital successfully hosted the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.
Senior Youth and Sports Ministry official Djoko Pekik said Palembang hosted 21 of the 44 sports at the SEA Games, most at the city’s Jakabaring Sports City, while the rest were hosted in Jakarta.
“We only have little time left, so we needed a place ready to host the Games without much preparation,” Djoko told the Jakarta Globe.
At the announcement, he said the event budget of Rp. 131 billion ($13.2 million) would remain unchanged.
South Sumatra provincial sports committee chairman Muddai Madang expressed the city’s readiness to host any international sporting event at any time.
“Jakabaring is always ready. We have been keeping the sports complex busy with sporting events since the end of the SEA Games.”
He added that the decision to move the Islamic Games to Palembang would be an honor for the city.
“For now, we are waiting for the Presidential decree that officially appoints Palembang as the host city,” Muddai said.
Source: The Jakarta Post
