Bali Wins Bid To Host World Beach Games In 2023

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Bali has been chosen to host the World Beach Games in 2023. The news is received as an exciting opportunity for the island to showcase its capabilities as a world-class destination for major events. Bali is also hosting the G20 Summit in November.

The Ministry for Tourism is working hard to diversify the type of tourism Bali can offer after the pandemic proved that relying on one stream of income for every 60% of an island’s GDP is not sustainable for safe in the long run. 

The Indonesian Olympic Committee is optimistic that Bali’s hosting of the ANOC World Beach Games will be an opportunity to accelerate the post-pandemic economic recovery and be an amazing chance for Indonesia to showcase its sporting talents. ANOC is the Association of National Olympic Committees. 

Writing to the press the Chair of Indonesia’s Olympic Committee, Raja Sapta Oktohari, said ‘The World Beach Games in Bali is not only profitable for the world of sports, but can also have a positive impact on the economic and tourism sectors. AWBG is the most prestigious multi-event for beach and water sports which will be attended by 1,200 athletes and 1,400 officials from 100 countries’. 

The Bali event will welcome 205 representatives from the Indonesian Olympic Committee alone, including 36 international sporting federations and representatives from world sporting bodies. Bali hosted the Member of the ANOC Executive Board and Head of the Events Commission Timothy Fok and Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg from the 7-12th July.

During this time Fok and Lindberg explored how the Island of the Gods would fair in hosting such a major event. They attended meetings and site visits where they discussed potential locations for the events. It is hoped that the event will also attract spectators from all over the world to come and enjoy the display of world class sport, and enjoy all of Bali’s unique charm.

It looks like Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Garuda Winsu Kencana have all ne short listed to host the games. The World Beach Games delegation also met with Bali Governor Wayan Koster who expressed his delight at the opportunity to bring the event to the island. Koster told the delegation that he is committed to seeing the world Beach Games as an opportunity for the younger generation of Bali, and Indonesian more broadly, to experience the power of sport.

He hopes that the event will increase access to sports infrastructure and sport as a public service provision. He has offered the local governments full support in terms of operations and logistics to bring the games to life.

The World Beach Games will be held in Bali from the 5-12th August 2023. The Indonesian President Joko Widodo is said to have his full attention on developing the Indonesian sports sector. This is only the second time the World Beach Games has been able to go ahead. The first event was held in Doha, Qatar in 2019. 

Bali will host the games which see competitors from 10 sports go head to head. The sports are, aquathlon, beach handball, beach soccer, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4×4, beach water polo, beach wrestling, individual word discipline karate, kite surfing, and 5 km open water swimming.

As is customary with all Olympic Games there will be the addition of four new sports that are yet to be announced. The Bali Games Committee will be able to submit and select two sports of their choice and the Association of National Olympic Committees will select the other two. These sports could include beach basketball, beach rugby, or beach netball. 

There are beaches in Bali that are perfect for kitesurfing which is also an official beach games sport, as well as surf kayaking and surfboat rowing. There could be scope for the inclusion of Stand UP Paddleboarding and surfing.