Lot Drawing Event in the Grand Mansion (Griya Agung), Palembang, Wednesday (21st Aug), 8 PM, marks the concluding part of Chef de Mission Seminar and Technical Delegates Meeting with the Supervision and Coordination Committee for Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) III – 2013.
ISG III-2013 will officially commence on the upcoming Sunday, September 22nd 2013 (Sunday). Yet the euphoria has been strongly felt 2 months prior. Scattered in numerous spots throughout town, installations of ISG-related banners, posters and flags. Very celebratory.Now a number of pre-ISG agendas are gaining density. Latest, on 17th to 21st August, a series of activity titled “Chef de Mission (CDM) Seminar and Technical Delegates (TD) Meeting with Supervision and Coordination Committee (SCC)” were taking place.
All TDs along with SCC and CDM were unanimously optimistic on the readiness of Palembang, South Sumatera, to hold the third ISG – 2013. They have also inspected competition venues belonging to Jakabaring Sport City (JSC), along with a couple of venues outside Jakabaring Sport City; The Multifunction Hall (Graha Serbaguna) of Jakabaring and Palembang Sports – Convention Center (PSCC).
Apart from that they have also inspected a number of non-competition venues such as Siloam General Hospital along with the following hotels; Aryaduta, Jayakarta Daira, Aston, and Novotel.
“We are very confident, South Sumatera will successfully host the establishment of the third ISG on 2013. All facilities are complete and accordant towards international standards. We sincerely hope that ISG – III will set a big history in Indonesia, particularly in South Sumatera,” stated the General Secretary of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF); Faisal Abdulaziz Al-Nassar.
There has been a variety of new developments taking place during the Chef de Mission Seminar and Technical Delegates Meeting with The Supervision and Coordination Committee. Amongst others were the decision that Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the third ISG – 2013 will be relocated to Bumi Sriwijaya Stadium in downtown Palembang.
Initially both ceremonies were supposed to be held in Sriwijaya Football Stadium of Jakabaring Sport City. But due to the density of football competition agendas, having both held on another site is a necessity.
Regardless, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the third Islamic Solidarity Games – 2013 will retain festivity. ISG – III in Palembang will render the earth glittering. “In spite of the relocation, the concept and program that we have designed will not undergo changes”, emphasized the Governor of South Sumatera; Alex Noerdin.
On another note, participation in the third ISG is also gaining addition. It was initially planned to host for 26 nations comprising Algeria; Azerbaijan; Brunei; Burkina Faso; Egypt; Indonesia; Guyana; Malaysia; Iran; Iraq; Kuwait; Libya; Maldives; Morocco; Oman; Palestine; Pakistan; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Sudan; Syria; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan, Uganda and United Arab Emirates.
Last moment’s developments have given addition of more participating nations, reaching up to 38 countries with the presence of Yemen, Guinea, Mauritania, Gambia, Nigeria along with Jordania. There are in fact 6 more countries that will join participation, namely Gabon; Tunisia; Senegal; Cameroon; Somalia; and Djibouti.
They have verbally addressed interest to the Indonesia Islamic Solidarity games Organizing Committee (INAISGOC) as the organizer for the establishment of the third ISG – 2013. Therefore it is safe to claim that the number of countries to (actively) take part in ISG III-2013 is 38. “Registration will be no longer possible after the end of August,” claimed the Chief of Deputy 1 INAISGOC; Joko Pramono.
However participants of the third ISG- 2013 are not merely from 38 countries, yet will also draw partaking from all members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The remainders will (at least) take part as observers.
OIC is an international organization with 57 constituent nations that each possesses a permanent representative in the United Nations (UN), established in Rabat, Morocco on September 12th 1969 or 12 Rajab 1389 Hijri.
ISG itself is an international multi-events establishment that draws participation from member countries of the OIC. It is carried out under the supervision of ISSF. The first ISG was held in Saudi Arabia on April 2005 (8th to 20th) while the second ISG was initially planned to be organized in Iran on April 2009 (9th to 25th) but was cancelled from being executed. ISG III is going to be held in Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia, from September 22nd until October 1st 2013.
“OIC member countries that are not competing in the third ISG will still send their representatives to participate in ISG III – 2013. Particularly chairpersons and general secretaries from each of their National Olympic Committee (NOC), will be present in Palembang,” said Organizing Chairman of the third ISG – 2013; Muddai Madang.
Amongst OIC member countries retaining participation despite by only sending observers are Afghanistan; Chad; Lebanon; Mali; Bahrain; Sierra Leone; Bangladesh; Gabon; Gambia; Guinea Bissau; Comoros; Benin; Niger; Albania; Kyrgyzstan; Mozambique; Kazakhstan; Uzbekistan; Suriname; Togo and Ivory Coast.
Now the Lot Drawing event that was held at 8 PM in Griya Agung, Palembang on Wednesday, was the concluding part of Chef de Mission Seminar and Technical Delegates Meeting with The Supervision and Coordination Committee for ISG III-2013.
The event was executed for 3 sports, namely indoor volleyball; basketball; and football. Now football is expected to be the most favored and attention-draining of all during the third ISG establishment. The euphoria will felt even denser in support the struggle of Indonesian National Team.
The results for the football Lot Drawing; Indonesia joins Iraq, Kuwait, and Libya in Group A. And then Group B is for Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Palestine and United Arab Emirates, while Group C comprises Syria, Oman, Qatar and Morocco.
Indeed, the team that will be deployed for football in the third ISG is the Under 23 age-group (U-23). However the event will still hold some prestige since Iraqis’ National Team who had acquired 4th champion in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, as well securing runner up position on the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, will be the greatest rival for Indonesian national U-23 team.
“Group A is a tough bunch. Yet, I hope that the Indonesian National Team can play it cool. Tact full use of spectators’ support and the status of being the host” uttered coach of Indonesian National team; Rahmad Darmawan.
While for the sporting branch of volleyball, Indonesia shares Pool B with Turkmenistan, Egypt, Libya and Saudi Arabia, apart from Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Cameroon, and Kuwait occupy Pool A. Then for basketball sport, Indonesia is positioned in Group A along with Oman, Turkey, Algeria, and Libya, aside from Group B comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Palestine. (vis)
