Riyadh : The Saudi capital Riyadh will host tomorrow, Friday, the opening ceremony of the Sixth Islamic Solidarity Games at the historical Janadriyah Track, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The Games bring together more than 3,000 athletes from 57 Islamic countries.
Bahrain’s delegation will take part in the parade with around 40 athletes. The national flag will be carried by Nasser Anan, captain of Bahrain’s national volleyball team, and table tennis player Dana Al Khayyat, in recognition of their achievements and contributions to Bahraini sport.
Nasser Anan led the national volleyball team to win the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship hosted by Bahrain in June, while Dana Al Khayyat is one of the Kingdom’s promising female players in table tennis, having represented Bahrain in several regional tournaments.
Bahrain’s delegation includes 182 athletes competing in 19 sports, among them athletics, para-athletics, 3×3 basketball, handball, volleyball, camel racing, duathlon, equestrian (show jumping), e-sports, shooting, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, muay thai, weightlifting, table tennis, wrestling, and para-weightlifting.
Bahrain’s participation continues its record of success in previous editions of the Games, where it won 51 medals, including 23 golds, emphasising the Kingdom’s strong sporting presence and its role in promoting unity among Islamic nations.
The Bahraini delegation also took part in the official reception held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University’s Sports Village, which included the raising of the Saudi national flag and the Games flag to the Saudi national anthem, alongside traditional Saudi Arda performances.
Games CEO Ian Reid and Islamic Solidarity Sports Association Coordination Committee Chairperson Konul Nurullayeva delivered remarks welcoming participants and praising Saudi Arabia’s organisation of the event as a platform for enhancing sports cooperation among Islamic countries.
The Bahrain Olympic Committee was represented by Board Member Eshaq Ibrahim Eshaq, delegation head Mariam Merdanah, and coordination and follow-up director Mohammed Al Balushi, along with several officials and athletes who expressed pride in representing the Kingdom in this international event.
The Bahrain Basketball Association also announced the national 3×3 basketball team roster, noting that the squad includes experienced players and international talent expected to add depth and competitiveness to the team’s performance.
Bahrain also participated in the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association Athletes Committee elections through athlete Nasser Anan, reflecting the Bahrain Olympic Committee’s commitment to engaging in federation initiatives and strengthening its international presence.
To enhance the Games experience, the organising committee has opened official merchandise outlets across five main locations in Riyadh, including Riyadh City Boulevard and the Athletes’ Village, along with three competition venues and a mobile store.
The Sixth Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Riyadh from November 7 to 21, with more than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries competing in 23 sports across five venues.
