M

atches in the Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) will commence on Saturday but the local organizers reportedly have yet to receive the operational funds from the government.

'€œWe have yet to receive confirmation from the sports ministry about the Memorandum of Understanding of fund disbursement for the ISG,'€ head of the central organizing committee Anthony Sunarjo said on Monday.

The late disbursement of funds has delayed the purchase of medals, the provision of accommodation for the committee, catering, uniforms, promotional booklets and the installment of tents, he said.

'€œWe expect Rp 130 billion to be disbursed, with Rp 80 billion allotted for local organizers in Palembang, while the soccer and basketball competitions will begin on Sept. 14,'€ Anthony said.

Although some matches will be held as early as Sept. 14, the third edition of the multi-sport event, contested among countries under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), officially opens on Sept. 22 and will run until Oct. 1.

Muddai Madang, head of South Sumatra sports council, said the Rp 80 billion portion for the operational costs for the ISG would not suffice.

'€œThat leaves the South Sumatra administration to bear the renovation costs of some buildings and the construction of the archery field,'€ Muddai said.

He said despite the late disbursement of the fund, the local organizers were committed to completing the venues in time before the basketball and soccer games on Saturday.

The ISG was initially meant to take place in Pekanbaru, Riau Province scheduled for June 9-17. But the failure to prepare the venues and the emergence of a corruption case implicating the governor forced the government to move it elsewhere. Jakarta was an option at one point before Palembang was chosen.

As many as 44 of 57 OIC countries were confirmed to take part in the event, which features 13 different sports with a total of 1,530 medals on offer for an expected 3,200 athletes and officials.

The basketball competition, which will begin at the Palembang Sport and Convention Center (PSCC), will feature four teams, according to competition head Djoko Pramono.

'€œTwo teams have withdrawn from the competition. They are Libya and Oman. So now we have only four teams playing for basketball medals,'€ he said.

Soccer will hold a technical meeting on Sept. 16 and matches will begin the following day.

Withdrawals have also marred other sports, which has resulted in the cancellation of a number of disciplines.

Track and field will drop five disciplines (women'€™s 20-km walk, women'€™s 4x100 relay, women'€™s 4x400 relay, women'€™s javelin and women'€™s hammer) due to lack of participants.

The organizers also have to cancel the women'€™s 1,500-meter free style in swimming.

'€œOnly three teams would have competed in those six disciplines. Therefore, we do not need to hold the competition, because all would have received medals,'€ Djoko said.

Karate and taekwondo, according to Djoko, are also facing cancellation, because of participation shortage.