Lausanne, Switzerland, July 4, 2023: In an official statement released on Tuesday, July 4, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) said it was with great surprise and extreme disappointment that it had learnt that the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) has withdrawn from its commitment to host the 2nd ANOC World Beach Games, Bali 2023 and the ANOC General Assembly in August.
The ANOC World Beach Games was scheduled from August 5-12 in Bali, Indonesia, and the ANOC General Assembly was to be held from August 13-15.
The statement said: “With the Games scheduled to take place in one month, the decision at such a late notice prevents ANOC from being able to find an alternative host and there is no option but to cancel this year’s edition of the Games in Bali in August as well as the ANOC General Assembly. Regarding the ANOC General Assembly, a decision will be taken in the coming weeks regarding a new location and dates.”
The Indonesian Olympic Committee stated the decision was taken after the budget was not released by the Government of the country and there is now no time to deliver the Games.
ANOC stated it was very disappointed by the KOPI’s actions which will deny athletes from 100 qualified National Olympic Committees from fulfilling their ambitions of competing at the Games.
ANOC offers its sincerest apologies to these NOCs, athletes and the International Federations, as at any major multi-sport event, ANOC had been regularly assured by the KOI that solutions would be found and the Games would go ahead as planned.
ANOC and KOI met for weekly coordination meetings, as recently as last week, and at no point did KOI indicate there were any issues that would lead to such an outcome.
ANOC’s immediate priority is to ensure that athletes are supported and the NOCs and IFs are compensated as best as possible in light of the Games cancellation, the statement added.
