JEDDAH, 23 May 2007 — Women will be allowed to compete in the Second Islamic Solidarity Games to be held in Tehran, Iran in 2009 under the auspices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
According to Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) Secretary General, Dr. Mohammad Gazdar, the Iranian government has allowed the participation of women in specific sports during the Games.
The first Solidarity Games were held in Saudi Arabia in 2005 and women were not allowed to participate. In Iran, women will be competing in five out of the 14 sports — shooting, athletics, fencing, karate and table tennis — during the 15-day Games. There are also five sports in which the handicapped are entered.
“There will be regulations on the sportswear of the women participating in the five sports. The dress-code requires the outfits to be conservative, which will be specified by the Iranian government,” Gazdar told Arab News.
Gazdar said existing regulations of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation allow women to participate in the Games. He hopes to see talented Muslim women athletes participate in the Games.
The first Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia in 2005 was successful with nearly 7,000 male athletes from 54 member-states competing.
