Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Iran, selected to host the 2nd Annual Islamic Solidarity Games, insisted that maps promoting the sporting event show the Persian Gulf with that very name. But Arab participants insisted on “Arabian Gulf” for the name of the strategic waterway that resides to the south of Iran. Unable to get Iran to abide by Arabic wishes after postponing the games last year, the Islamic Solidarity Games Foundation—based in Saudi Arabia—decided to cancel the event, which had been rescheduled for April of this year..
Created to strengthen ties among the 57-nation Organization of The Islamic Conference, the solidarity games would have included events such as swimming, basketball, football and wrestling, and were supposed to have permitted female athletes to compete for the first time.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
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