The sixth Islamic Solidarity Games are underway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and they will officially be offset with an opening ceremony in Riyadh on Fridday.
‘As we welcome NOCs (National Olympic Committees) from across the Islamic world to Riyadh 2025, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to strengthening the bonds of solidarity and understanding through sport,’ the Games’ chairman Fahad Bin Jalawi Al-Saud stated.
‘The return of the Games to Saudi Arabia is a testament to our dedication to fostering a world-class sporting environment that reflects our Kingdom’s rich heritage, progress, and global leadership,’ he added.
Whereas Saudi Arabia has opened up to more than 3000 competitors across 21 sports from 57 nations, the Middle East state’s territory lives on a strict law.
And it is one that a team of 39 Ugandan athletes from seven disciplines will face when they compete until November 21. ‘Saudi Arabia is a strict country, (but) as long as we keep the etiquettes, Saudi Arabia is the place to be,’ Team Uganda chef de mission Sadiq Nassiwu cautioned athletes.
‘Riyadh is a very beautiful city for us to go to show our skills and talent. Saudi Arabia is strict mainly on two things, alcohol and drugs. They don’t allow them.
‘If you are caught, it is highly punitive and you may never come back home. These people are friendly but they are not ready to disorganize their population. On this particular issue, many attempts are being done to destabilize this issue. Don’t carry someone’s bag. Carry only your bag, even your teammate. This is life and death,’ he added.
From 2019, Saudi’s government coined a set of rules under the Public Decency Law which identify 19 offenses covering local values, customs, and traditions in public places.
Littering, taking photographs and videos of people without permission is prohibited, indecent clothing, verbal or physical harassment, graffiti and queue jumping is as well uncouth.
While that may sound far-fetched for sports, even during action, athletes are under a strict watch.
‘There are some signs that are not allowed. You may do them here but they are not allowed in the Games,’ Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) athletes representative Shadir Musa Bwogi stated.
Such may include celebratory norms for athletes when being introduced before an event or picking up a medal. ‘Respect the officials, whoever you see, whether for another team or not,’ added Bwogi who boxed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan four years ago.
Meanwhile, two Ugandan boxers Fatuma Nabikolo and Angel Katushabe were ejected from the Games after they had not conducted the mandatory Gender Eligibility Tests.
‘There was a miscommunication between our bosses at the global stage and the local federation. However, we have the two male players ready to battle,’ Bombers’ coach Samuel Kabugo said.
The other two boxers Alfred Ojok (80kg) and Jimmy Adriko (60kg) will compete in the quarterfinals against Iranian Mohammad Nourani and Mahammadali Gasimzade from Azerbaijan respectively at Boulevard City.
2025 ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES
BOXING – SATURDAY (QUARTERFINALS)
MEN’S 60KG: Jimmy Adriko (UGA) vs. Mahammadali Gasimzade (AZE)
MEN’S 80KG: Alfred Ojok (UGA) vs. Mohammad Nourani (IRN)
TEAM UGANDA TO ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES
AQUATICS: Gloria Muzito (100m and 50m freestyle 4×100 mixed freestyle relay), Jesse Ssengonzi Ssuubi (50m butterfly mixed 4x100m freestyle relay), Tendo Mukalazi (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle mixed 4x100m freestyle relay), Tara Ann Mary Kisawuzi Naluwoza (50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m and 50m freestyle, 4×100 mixed freestyle relay)
ATHLETICS: Shida Leni, Malvine Akwenyi and Maureen Akiiki Banura (all 400m and 4x400m Relay), Halimah Nakaayi (800m and 4x400m Relay), Knight Aciru (1500m), Charity Cherop (5000m), Risper Cherop (5000m), Annet Chemengich Chelangat (10,000m), Rebecca Chelengat (10000m), Josephine Lalam (Javelin), Godfrey Chan-wengo, Haron Adoli, Kenneth Omuka (all 400m and 4x400m Relay), Tom Dradiga (800m, 4x400m Relay), Leonard Chemutai (3000m Steeplechase), Samuel Simba Cherop (5000m), Abel Chebet (10000m)
BOXING: Alfred Ojok (80kg), Jimmy Adriko (60kg), Angel Katushabe (51kg), Fatuma Nabikolo (57kg)
PARA POWERLIFTING: Dennis Mbaziira
TABLE TENNIS: Jemimah Nakawala, Judith Mirembe, Judith Parvin Nangonzi, Joseph Sebatindira, Joshua Magaya, Jonathan Senyonga
WEIGHTLIFTING: Aisha Namataka (86kg), Steven Ojede (94kg), Figo Faluku Kyambadde (65kg), Davis Niyoyita (60kg)
WRESTLING: Veronica Ayo (57kg), Rebecca Israel Amongi (62kg), Rodger Mukyeda (74kg)
MAIN OFFICIALS: Zaid Sadik Nasiwu (Chef de mission), Muhammed Baale Waladde (Deputy CDM), Jonathan Wangolo (Administrative Personnel), Ivan Mugowa (Administrative Personnel), Priscilah Ondoga (Physiotherapist), Leonard Francis Were (Team Doctor), David Isabirye (Team Media Attache), Miriam Mirembe Nalubega (Physiotherapist)
UGANDA’S MEDALS AT THE ISG
2005 Mecca: Boniface Kiprop (10000 Metres Bronze)
2017 Baku: Halimah Nakaayi (800 Metres Silver)
2021 Konya: Abel Chebet (5000 Metres Silver and 10000 Metres Gold), Kirabo Namutebi (50 Metres Freestyle Silver), Husnah Kukundakwe (100 Metres Breaststroke SB4-SB9 Gold, 200 Metres Individual Medley SM5-SM10 Gold, 50 Metres Freestyle S4-S10, 400 Metres Freestyle S6-S10 Silver, 100 Metres Backstroke S6-S10 Silver, 100 Metres Freestyle S4-S10 Bronze)