HM Rusli Zainal, Governor of Riau Province, handing over a memento to Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, Chairman of Board of Directors of Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) and President of the General Presidency of Youth and Welfare (GPYW) in Jeddah. — Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Indonesia is gearing up for the third Islamic Solidarity Games well in advance, according to a high-level official of the organizing committee. HM Rusli Zainal, Governor of Riau Province which is hosting the event, who was here to meet Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, Chairman of Board of Directors of Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) and GPYW, told Saudi Gazette that 53 venues are already ready for conducting various disciplines in the province. Zainal, who received the official flag of the third Islamic Solidarity Sports Games from Prince Nawaf, said that ISSF Chairman has promised to provide all the support the province needed to make the Games a success. “Two months ago, nine officials from ISSF visited the province including Dr. Mohammad Saleh Gazdar, Secretary General of ISSF, to witness the preparation,” he said. The delegation found that all infrastructure is ready to host the outstanding event, he added. “It is our pleasure to host the Games. On this occasion, I would like to thank Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries for giving us this historic chance,” Zainal added. The organizing committee selected Riau province to host the Games due to its strategic geographic location. The Province is close to Singapore, just 40 minutes by plane. “We have set up a 300-member organizing committee to host this event and to make things smooth during the games,” he said. Incidentally Riau Province will host the National Games of Indonesia in 2012 where competitions will be held in 39 events. A special Islamic cultural festival of arts will also be held on the sidelines of the games. Mohammad Johar Firdouss, Chairman of Peoples Representative of Riau Province, said that 200 guides from Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, will help the organizers in Indonesia. __
