IN many ways, the first Islamic Solidarity Games 2005 added to the list of achievements of Saudi Arabia in various fields. That the games have put the Kingdom in the world sporting map is an understatement, for it has hosted many other international events in the past. The event merely confirmed that.

And to a man the Solidarity Games were a roaring success thanks to the wise leadership of General Presidency of Youth Welfare chairman Prince Sultan ibn Fahd and his deputy Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal.

For 13 glorious days in April, the Kingdom hosted 7,000 athletes from 38 countries who strutted their skills in a brotherly competition. Fourteen events were contested in 56 venues across the four cities of Makkah, Madinah, Taif and Jeddah. The host country, in old-fashioned Arab hospitality, made sure everyone and everything are taken care of. Minor glitches, yes, but no big blunders ever occurred for the entire run of the multievent competition keeping everybody reasonably satisfied.

The Games preparations took almost a year under the baton of Dr. Saleh ibn Nasser, vice chairman of General Presidency of Youth Welfare. Abdullah Sahali headed the Games secretariat that had been responsible in the nitty-gritty details of the preparations.

When showtime came the green and white of Saudi Arabia were all over the place. Among the many individual talents to shine for the Kingdom were Sulaiman Al Khuwaldi and Hamid ibn Hamdan ibn Abdallah in athletics, weightlifter Abdul Lateef Al Abdul Lateef. The most bemedaled athlete of the Games with three golds was the champion esquestrian Prince Faisal ibn Saud Al Shallan.

Al-Khuwaldi set a new Asian record of 8.44 meters in winning the long jump gold medal, while Hamid scored a dramatic victory in the 200 meters that ended in a photofinish with Cameroon’s Batangdon Joseph. That opened the Saudis’ five-gold romp on the final day in track and field where the hosts emerged overall champion on the strength of nine golds.

The Saudis also did well in weightlifting and won the event closest to their hearts, football, where they beat Morocco 1-0 in the final to punctuate their overall victory.

An idea whose time has come, the Games not only showcased the sporting side of Muslims. They also created a positive impact for Islam as well. The late Prince Faisal ibn Fahd first proposed the staging of the Islamic Solidarity Games, and it was really great that Saudi Arabia staged such a successful Games.

— Published in Arab News Saudi National Supplement (Sept. 23, 2005).