Politics feared in Beach Games scratch

When the 2023 World Beach Games were cancelled one month prior to being held in Bali on August 5-12, the Indonesian Olympic Committee claimed it was due to the Government of the country failing to provide funding.

However, Indonesia’s Sports and Youth Minister Dito Ariotedjo contends the funding was in place for the event, but rather “other issues” were behind the late cancellation of the event. These issues are believed to be the mandate for the event to be inclusive, and how the Indonesian government wanted to exclude Israel.

Disagreements over Israel’s appearance in Indonesia had dominated the lead up to the event. Indonesia supports Palestine in its long-running conflict with the Middle Eastern nation, and the decision to withhold funding coincided with Israel launching a major military operation in the West Bank. – Full report