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Gymnastics’ governing body was slow to react Friday to Indonesia’s announcement that it would halt the Israel Athletes competing at the upcoming World Championships in Jakarta.
“The FIG notes the decision of the Indonesian government not to issue visas to the Israeli delegation registered for the 53rd FIG Artistic.” workoutwhich will be held in Jakarta from 19-25 October, and acknowledges the challenges the host country has faced in organizing this event,” a brief statement said.
The statement did not threaten to move the event away from Indonesia, as stipulated in the FIG statute for cases where the host refuses to issue a visa.
“The FIG hopes to quickly create an environment where athletes around the world can enjoy sport safely and with peace of mind,” it added.
Indonesia’s decision to deny visas to Israeli athletes came after their planned participation was met with intense opposition in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, which has long been a staunch supporter. Palestinians,
Israel is one of 86 nations registered to compete worldwide, with a team highlighted by 2020 Olympic gold medalist and reigning world champion in men’s floor exercise Artem Dolgopyat.
Its participation is now in doubt, even though the Israeli Gymnastics Federation said in July that Indonesian officials had assured it it would be welcomed on the world stage. This would have gone against Indonesia’s long-standing policy of refusing to host Israeli sporting delegations for major events.
On Thursday, Indonesia’s senior law minister, Yusril Ihja Mahendra, made it clear that despite Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire, the Israeli team would not be allowed into the country.
“We respect every decision taken by the government with different views,” Indonesian Olympic Committee president Raja Sapta Oktohari said at a news conference in Jakarta on Friday.
Ita Yuliati, president of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, said she had informed FIG President Morinari Watanabe about the decision and claimed that “the FIG has expressed support.”
The gymnastics controversy is the latest example of how the global backlash against Israel over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza has spilled over into the realms of sport and culture.
Indonesia was stripped of the right to host soccer’s U-20 World Cup in 2023 just two months before the tournament was due to begin amid political turmoil over Israel’s participation.
Instead of disciplining Indonesia, FIFA awarded that country the right to host a separate Youth World Cup later that year, for which Israel had not qualified.
Indonesian football was seen to benefit from its leader Eric Thohir’s close relationship with FIFA president gianni infantinoWho, like Thohir, is a member of the International Olympic Committee.
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Associated Press journalists Edna Tarigan and Dita Alangkara in Jakarta, Indonesia, and AP Sports writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.
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AP Sports: https://apnews.com/sports