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Bali Governor again refuses to host Israel at World Beach Games
The Bali governor has again reiterated his refusal to allow Israeli participation, this time at the World Beach Games set for August, refuting an earlier statement from the sports minister that the province was committed to supporting the event "1,000 percent".
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Bali Governor Wayan Koster (left) poses with newly installed Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo (center) and Indonesian Olympics Committee (KOI) chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari on April 13, 2023. (The Jakarta Post/kemenpora.go.id)
B
ali Governor Wayan Koster has clarified his repeated refusal to allow Israeli participation following his statement on Friday regarding the World Beach Games, which is set for Aug. 5-12 in the island province.
The Youth and Sports Ministry said on Friday after a meeting between Koster, sports minister Dito Ariotedjo and Indonesian Olympics Committee (KOI) chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari that it had reached an agreement with the Bali provincial administration to allow the World Beach Games to go ahead as scheduled.
A ministerial statement published on Friday quoted Koster as saying that the Bali administration was fully committed to supporting the Games.
"There has been an agreement with Bali, [...] and as the host, the Bali provincial administration will lend its full support so [the World Beach Games] can run smoothly and will be a success," Koster said in the ministry’s statement, which did not mention the Israeli team’s participation in the event.
On Saturday, Koster said in a written statement that his support came with a condition: “I remain consistent in refusing the Israeli team’s participation in the 2023 World Beach Games in Bali.”
Dito, who was sworn in only two weeks ago as the country's youngest sports minister, said on Friday that he had secured Bali’s full commitment of to hosting the multi-sports event.
"The deal is that the governor and the Bali administration will give 1,000 percent of their support for the 2023 World Beach Games," he said at the time.
