Women To Partcipate In 2nd Islamic Solidarity Games

-- For the first time, women will be allowed to compete in the Islamic Solidarity Games to be held in Tehran, Iran, in 2009 under the auspices of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Women, who merely watched from the sidelines during the inaugural games in Saudi Arabia in 2005, will now have the opportunity to participate in at least six events.

Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation secretary-general Dr Mohammad S.Gazdar said the Tehran games was open to women but the federation would impose high standards to ensure that only top female athletes participate.

"We hope more women from the Islamic countries will participate but we are looking at quality athletes," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 34th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) meeting here.

"Special dress (sports wear) for women will be introduced in Tehran and Iran with its experience in planning various dress for women athletes," he added.

Gazdar said women would be competing in shooting, athletics, fencing, karate and table tennis during the 15-day meet, which would be spread over five cities in Iran -- Esfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Orumieh and Tehran.

In Saudi Arabia, nearly 7,000 athletes from 54 countries, including Malaysia, competed in 13 different sports in the games, considered to be one of the major sporting events in the Muslim world but restricted to males.

The Malaysian contingent headed by chef-de-mission Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Zain Hashim comprised 42 officials and 84 athletes who took part in athletics, aquatics (swimming & diving), fencing, football, karate, taekwondo and weightlifting.

The federation will also be hosting games for the Special Needs People, or the disabled group, in football, table tennis, shooting, volleyball and basketball.

-- BERNAMA