Bali. Bali Governor I Wayan Koster confirmed on Friday that Israel will not take part in the World Beach Games organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) scheduled for August 5-12.

The same governor sparked controversy last month when he refused to allow the Israeli football team to play on the resort island in the U-20 FIFA World Cup, prompting FIFA to cancel the Indonesian tournament.

“It has been agreed when I received a visit by the youth affairs and sports minister and Indonesian Olympic Committee Chairman Mr. Raja [Sapta Oktohari] that the Anoc World Beach Games in Bali will be held without Israeli participants," Wayan Koster told reporters. 

"The list of participating countries has been released and no Israel on it."

The Bali event is the second ANOC World Beach Games after the inaugural edition in Qatar in 2019.

According to the ANOC website, the sports program at Bali 2023 comprises aquathlon, beach handball, beach soccer, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4×4, beach waterpolo, beach wrestling, Individual kata, open water swimming 5km, 3x3 basketball, airbadminton, surfing, beach sprint rowing, and wingfoil racing.

A total of 1,584 athletes from 69 countries will compete in the Bali beach games in 43 medal events.