The Islamic Solidarity Games open in Indonesia this weekend following a chaotic run-up, with controversy over female athletes competing in sports bikinis adding to the turmoil.
Some nations demanded that all women cover up for the beach volleyball, track and field, and swimming events, but organisers have refused to axe the two-piece sporting outfits.
"If some countries do not want to use the bikini, that's fine, but if other countries want to, we will allow that," senior organising committee member Djoko Pramono told AFP.
"We agreed to apply international rules, including the dress code."
Thousands of athletes from 44 nations with Muslim populations will come together for the games, but only those ruled by Islamic governments opposed the bikini, Pramono said, adding they complained collectively.
He did not mention the countries which complained by name.
This year is the second time the games have been held, the first in Saudi Arabia, where not only were there no bikinis, but men and women competed on separate days and men were barred from watching women swim.
Some countries also asked the organisers to again run male and female events on separate days.
Pramono said he did not know which teams had decided to wear the bikinis.
Female players from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have worn them at previous international competitions.
The event has faced a string of other problems, in the latest chapter of Indonesia's shambolic history of hosting of major sporting tournaments.
It is set to officially open Sunday and run until October 1 after months of delays and two changes of venue, now in Palembang city on Sumatra island.
Unpaid labourers shuttered the stadium in the original host city, Pekanbaru, with the governor embroiled in multiple corruption scandals unable to help.
It was moved to the capital, Jakarta, only to be shifted again to Palembang after Sumatran officials complained, giving organisers less than two months to move everything to the new venue.
Eyebrows have been raised over the Palembang complex, where parts of the ill-fated 2011 Southeast Asian Games took place.
Some facilities were not fully constructed as the 2011 event opened and scores of athletes suffered food poisoning there.
During that event, two football fans were crushed to death in a stampede at a venue in the capital as security guards were unable to control a massive crowd.
But Pramono was optimistic about the Islamic games, which includes archery, badminton and karate, and brings together nations from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
"Everything is progressing, and I'm sure all 13 sports will be a success," he said.
The religious-based row is not the first to hit an international sporting event.
Last year, the International Judo Federation told Saudi Arabia's first woman to compete at the Olympics, Wojdan Shaherkani, that she could not compete in a Muslim headscarf.
A compromise was reached and she fought in a modified head covering at the London Games.
AFP
Fri Sep 20 2013
WCK sambung misi bantuan di Gaza
Operasi itu disambung sebulan selepas tujuh pekerja badan amal itu terbunuh dalam serangan udara Israel.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia perlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi ke Orde Baharu - Menteri Luar Arab Saudi
Dunia memerlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi daripada Orde Dunia Lama kepada Orde Baharu.
Niaga AWANI: Jiwa SME: Permintaan daun moringa meningkat, jadi tumpuan luar negara
Berdasarkan laporan Vodus Market Research, sebuah firma penyelidikan dan analisis data pasaran dalam talian, kira-kira 71 peratus penduduk di negara ini mengambil suplemen pada 2021.
Nilai pasaran suplemen negara juga menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam tempoh 2014 hingga 2019, iaitu daripada RM2.07 bilion kepada RM3.1 bilion. Angka itu dijangka terus meningkat pada masa akan datang.
Nilai pasaran suplemen negara juga menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam tempoh 2014 hingga 2019, iaitu daripada RM2.07 bilion kepada RM3.1 bilion. Angka itu dijangka terus meningkat pada masa akan datang.
Niaga AWANI: FBM KLCI mencapai paras tertinggi walaupun ditengah cabaran Ringgit
Indeks FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI meningkat sebanyak 8.28% walaupun nilai matawang menurun sebanyak 3.79% berbanding dollar Amerika Syarikat (AS). Adakah trend ini akan berterusan sehingga bulan Mei akan datang? Kupasan lanjut bersama Ketua Penyelidikan dan Penasihat Kekayaan, Pengurus Portfolio, UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors, Mohd Sedek Jantan.
Niaga AWANI: Ringgit dijangka sekitar 4.77 berbanding dolar AS minggu ini
Pengarah Urusan SPI Asset Management Stephen Innes berkata ini bagaimanapun bergantung kepada reaksi pasaran bon global memandangkan ramai peniaga memberi tumpuan terhadap pelarasan oleh Rizab Persekutuan AS (Fed).
Mustapa Mohamed terima anugerah daripada kerajaan Jepun
Mustapa dianugerahi Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun daripada Kerajaan Jepun atas sumbangan beliau dalam hubungan Jepun-Malaysia.
Niaga AWANI: Bursa Malaysia dijangka diniagakan dalam jajaran kecil minggu ini
Naib Presiden Penyelidikan Ekuiti Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd, Thong Pak Leng berkata beliau meramalkan paras sokongan segera pada 1,555, diikuti dengan 1,545.
Niaga AWANI: Cabaran jurang negara kaya dan membangun
Editor Astro AWANI, Najib Aroff menemu bual Mirek Dusek yang merupakan Pengarah Urusan, World Economic Forum (WEF) berkait fokus serta tumpuan Mesyuarat Khas WEF serta jurang negara kaya dan membangun.
AWANI Pagi: Sokongan & peluang pekerjaan untuk komuniti Autistik
Sempena sambutan Bulan Autisme Sedunia pada April, ikuti diskusi bersama Beatrice Leong, Autistik, Aktivis dan Pengasas Persatuan Kesejahteraan Autisme mengenai ekosistem sokongan untuk pekerjaan individu autistik di Malaysia.
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: Penduduk Rantau Panjang turut rasai gegaran
Selain letupan seorang saksi mendakwa turut mendengar insiden berbalas tembakan di kawasan berkenaan.
Tiada bikini dalam Miss World 2013 Indonesia
Peserta ratu cantik dunia tidak akan mengenakan bikini dalam acara itu bagi mengelak tentangan masyarakat Muslim Indonesia menurut penganjur yang mengesahkannya pada Rabu.