Gymnastics’ governing body’s reaction to Indonesia’s ban from the World Championships for Team Israel | Athletics News

Indonesia has refused to grant visas to Israeli athletes ahead of the upcoming world championships in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

Gymnastics’ governing body gave a calm reaction to Indonesia’s announcement that it would ban Israeli athletes from competing in the upcoming world championships in Jakarta.

“FIG takes note of the Indonesian government’s decision not to issue visas to the Israeli delegation registered to participate in the 53rd Artistic Gymnastics Games, which will be held in Jakarta from October 19 to 25, and is aware of the challenges the host country faced in organizing this event,” the International Gymnastics Federation said in a short statement on Friday.

The statement did not threaten to remove the event from Indonesia, as stipulated in the International Federation’s rules for cases where the host refuses to issue visas.

He added: “The International Sports Federation hopes that an environment will be created as soon as possible where athletes around the world can enjoy sports safely and with peace of mind.”

Indonesia’s decision to deny visas to the Israeli athletes came after their scheduled participation sparked fierce opposition in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, which has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinians.

Israel is among 86 countries registered to compete in the world championships, with a team highlighted by 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgobyat in the men’s floor exercise.

Now her participation is in doubt, although the Israel Gymnastics Federation said last July that Indonesian officials had assured it that it would be welcome at the world championships. This would have contradicted Indonesia’s long-standing policy of refusing to host Israeli sports delegations to major events.

On Thursday, Indonesian Law Minister Yusril Iza Mahindra made it clear that the Israeli team would not be allowed to enter the country, despite Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire.

“We respect every decision made by the government with various considerations,” Raja Sapta Oktohari, president of the Indonesian Olympic Committee, said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

The President of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, Ita Yuliati, said that she informed the President of the International Gymnastics Federation, Morinari Watanabe, about the decision, and claimed that “the International Gymnastics Federation expressed its support.”

The row between the gymnasts is the latest example of how the global backlash against Israel over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza has spread to the arenas of sports and culture.

Indonesia has been stripped of the rights to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2023, just two months before the tournament begins, amid political unrest over Israel’s participation.

Instead of disciplining Indonesia, FIFA granted the country the rights to host the Youth World Cup later that year, for which Israel was not eligible.

Indonesian football was seen as benefiting from its leader Eric Thohir’s close ties with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who, like Thohir, is a member of the International Olympic Committee.