A sporting event meant to strengthen ties among Muslim nations has been canceled because of a dispute between Arab countries and Iran over the name of the waterway dividing them, organizers said Sunday.
The Saudi-based sports federation that organizes the games said it canceled the event after Iran used the name "Persian Gulf" in the logo. Arabs call the waterway the Arabian Gulf and many of them feel offended by references to its other common name.
The Islamic Solidarity Games were to be held in Iran's capital, Tehran, in the spring.
"The federation regrettably declares the cancellation of the games in Iran because the organizers did not comply with the rules of games and the federation's bylaws," a federation statement said.
Iran maintains the strategic waterway on its southern coast has historically been known as the Persian Gulf. It has even banned publication of maps showing it as just "the Gulf."
The western shores of the waterway are held by Saudi Arabia and six other Arab countries.
The five-year-old games were created to strengthen ties among the 57-nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Events include athletics, swimming, basketball, football and wrestling.
The 2010 games would have permitted female athletes to compete for the first time.
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