The emergence and development of the Islamic Solidarity Games

This chapter titled ‘The Emergence and Development of the Islamic Solidarity Games’, starts by looking at the reasons for establishing the Islamic Sports Solidarity Federation (ISSF). The first section of the chapter illustrates the emergence and development of the Games since its first edition in Saudi Arabia in 2005. The second section focuses on controversies surrounding the Games, which include issues such as Muslim women’s participation, the ‘appropriate’ dress code, and political tensions arising between the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries. It discusses the impact of these issues on the Games and clarifies the position of the ISSF and the host countries on these issues. The third section concentrates on the challenges facing the Games and the role of the ISSF in sustaining them. The chapter concludes with insights into the power of modernity discourse represented in accepting sport and its secular elements over the conservative/traditional values represented by Islamic teachings and sharia rules.