ATR's coverage of the Asian Beach Games is proudly sponsored by the Olympic Council of Asia
(ATR) War-torn countries Iraq and Syria are making their presence felt at the Asian Beach Games in Da Nang, winning medals and approval from the Olympic Council of Asia.
Iraq has won nine medals at the Games – one gold, one silver and seven bronze.
Amir Yahya Abdulamir Al Bazy won four matches to win a jujitsu gold medal in the men’s 62kg class on Sept. 25. With its nine medals, Iraq is tied for eighth in the medal standings by total count.
Syrian marathon swimmer Saleh Mohammad has swam to silver and bronze medals in Da Nang – the seventh and eighth medals of his career, having competed in four editions of the ABG.
Mohammad took silver in the men’s 5km event finishing in 58 minutes and 10 seconds, only beaten by a Kazakhstani swimmer who won gold.
His bronze medal came in the 10km event two days earlier.
Along with Mohammad, 11 other Syrian athletes are participating in Da Nang.
"The athletes of Iraq and Syria have shown the true spirit of Olympism, not only by competing here but by winning medals to make their countries proud," said OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam.
"Despite the troubles in their countries, their National Olympic Committees have still managed to give the opportunity to their athletes to join their friends from around the continent here in Da Nang, Vietnam.
"The OCA would like to place on record our appreciation of their efforts, and our admiration for their achievements. Once again this proves that sport cultivates peace, tolerance and understanding, and the OCA is proud to play a part in this."
The Asian Beach Games in Da Nang mark the fifth edition of OCA’s sea and sand sports festival. Athletes from 43 nations are competing in 22 sports in the Vietnamese coastal city.
The multi-sport carnival has been held every two years since the first edition in Bali, Indonesia in 2008.
However, the ABG will now be held every four years instead of two. The next edition scheduled for 2018, has been postponed until 2020. Lack of suitable candidates to host the event is largely behind the change.
According to the OCA, the ABG have become a successful entity due to the relatively low costs of staging the beach sports festival, with temporary rather than permanent venues, and high potential for tourism and resort promotion and development have attracted substantial interest from around the continent.
The Asian Beach Games continue thru Oct. 3.
Written by Brian Pinelli
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