The Youth and Sports Minister of Indonesia, Dito Ariotedjo, has confirmed that Israel will not be participating in the 2023 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games (AWBG) in Bali. This announcement comes after a polemic arose earlier this year surrounding the Israeli national team’s participation in the U-20 World Cup, with Bali Governor I Wayan Koster initially objecting to their presence. However, following a meeting between Ariotedjo and the governor, it has been confirmed that there is no objection to the Israeli team’s participation in the 2023 AWBG.
The ANOC World Beach Games will take place from August 5-12, and it is expected that around 1,600 athletes from 130 countries will attend. Qualification for the tournament is currently underway and will continue until July. Prior to the competition, Indonesia will host the Chef de Mission (CdM) meeting from April 28 to May 1, which will be attended by representatives from 69 countries. During this meeting, the Indonesian ANOC World Beach Games Organizing Committee will share information regarding the readiness of venues, accommodations, transportation, and other supporting facilities for the tournament.
This news follows the release of the list of countries that will participate in the tournament by ANOC on April 27, which confirmed that Israel is not among the participating countries. Therefore, there is no more polemic surrounding their participation in the tournament. As the tournament approaches, preparations for the AWBG in Bali continue. This information is copyright © ANTARA 2023, and has been translated by Shofi Ayudiana and edited by Rahmad Nasution.
