ANOC has denied that Israel has been excluded from the World Beach Games following comments from Bali Governor Wayan Koster ©Getty Images

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has denied claims by Bali Governor Wayan Koster that Israel will not be competing at its World Beach Games.

Koster claimed that an Israeli team would not be present for the event, due to be held on the Indonesian island between August 5 and 12, and cited a "list of participating countries".

“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," Koster told the Jakarta Globe.

The list he was referring to was actually for the Chef de Mission seminar which took place last week, ANOC claimed.

ANOC has confirmed to insidethegames that it was not the list of qualified National Olympic Committees which does not yet exist as the qualification process is less than halfway through.

The final list of NOCs is set to be finalised in the coming months before the final deadline of July 8.

ANOC is working with local organisers to ensure that all qualified NOCs will be able to compete at the Games. 

Protests against Israel's participation have already led to Indonesia being stripped of its rights to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup ©Getty Images
Protests against Israel's participation have already led to Indonesia being stripped of its rights to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup ©Getty Images

The Olympic Committee of Israel (OCI) has stated that it has been in contact with the International Olympic Committee and ANOC to secure the country's place. 

"After many conversations with the heads of the International Olympic Committee in recent months, a letter was sent to the President and chief executive of ANOC clarifying that Israeli athletes will participate in the ANOC only if they are given equal conditions to those of other countries," a read an OCI statement, as reported by Israeli newspaper Ynetnews.

Koster has previously spoken of his objections to Israel competing, raising fears among some Indonesian officials that it could result in the country being stripped of another sporting event.

FIFA removed its men’s Under-20 World Cup from Indonesia over local objections to Israel taking part and Koster is refusing to back down on his opposition to them featuring at the World Beach Games.

Speaking last weekend, ANOC secretary general Gunilla Lindberg dismissed Koster's comments as "noise in the media" as she expects Indonesian officials to stick to its agreement to all countries to compete.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, a supporter of the Palestinian cause and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.