It emerged 27th out of 29 countries with only one bronze medal to its credit.
It was a very disappointing performance for the Cameroonian delegation that took part in the 3rd Islamic Solidarity Games which ended on Tuesday October 1, 2013 in Palembang on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
Cameroon emerged 27th out of 29 countries engaged in the competition, winning only two medals; one in silver and the other in bronze. Of the 30 Cameroonian athletes who took part in the games, only one won medals. The lone medal was fetched for Cameroon by Guetedem Gabriel in athletics. Guetedem emerged third in the 20km walk to bag home the bronze medal.
Meanwhile the host country Indonesia which happens to be the largest Muslim country in the world, dominated the competition, winning a total of 104 medals; 36 gold, 34 silver and 34 bronze. They were followed by Iran and Egypt in the second and third positions respectively. Iran won a total of 83 medals; 30 gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze. Egypt the first African country and overall third won a total of 72 medals; 26 gold, 31 silver and 29 bronze.
The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multi-national multi-sport event instituted to foster closer ties among Muslim nations. It involves athletes of the Organisation of Islamic Conference but is open to non-Muslims citizens from member countries. The games are organised by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, with Cameroonian born Colonel Kalkaba Malboum as vice president. The first edition of the Islamic Games was in 2005 in Saudi Arabia. The second edition which was to take place in Iran in 2009 did not take place because of the bird flu outbreak. The fourth edition of the games will take place in 2017, in Baku.
