The organizers of the Islamic Solidarity Games have opened the door for British athletes to participate in future editions of the event, although currently only the 57 member countries of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), which in turn are part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, are allowed to participate.

The next edition of these Games will be held in November in Riyadh. Under the chairmanship of the Saudi Arabian Minister of Sports, the ISSA has expressed its intention to expand its international audience, which could lead to the invitation of new participating countries in the future.

It does not depend on faith

“It would be a high-quality sporting competition. It would be interesting to see,” said ISSA Secretary General Nasser Majali during an event in London on Wednesday. “It depends on the desire, it depends on what we can do from a sustainability point of view. But it is always welcome to have high-quality sporting competitions.“ Majali added that although the Games are currently restricted to ISSA countries, ”you never know how participation may evolve in the future.”

Although the Games are linked to an Islamic organization, participating athletes do not have to profess that faith. “The first Jordanian to win a gold medal at the 2017 Games was Christian, a spectacular swimmer,” Majali recalled. Current ISSA members include countries such as Albania, Nigeria, and Guyana, where Muslims represent approximately 7% of the population, a percentage similar to the 6.5% recorded in England and Wales.

The ISSA brings together countries from four continents and religiously diverse populations. This diversity could, according to the organizers, lead to future openness that would allow new countries to join without specific religious or political requirements.