Indonesia to block Israeli from competing at gymnastics world championships
The decision to deny visas to Israeli athletes comes after their planned participation sparked intense opposition in country
Indonesia will block Israeli athletes from competing at the coming gymnastics world championships in Jakarta, a government official said on Thursday.
The decision to deny visas to the Israeli athletes comes after their planned participation had sparked intense opposition in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, which has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinians.
Israel is among 86 countries registered to compete at the worlds that start in Jakarta on October 19, with a team highlighted by 2020 Olympic gold medallist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat in the men’s floor exercise.
Now its participation is in doubt, even though the Israeli Gymnastics Federation said in July that it had been assured by Indonesian officials that it would be welcome at the worlds. That would have gone against Indonesia’s long-standing policy of refusing to host Israeli sports delegations for major events.
On Thursday, Indonesia’s senior minister of law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the Israeli team would not be allowed into the country, despite Israel and Hamas having agreed to a ceasefire.
“The government will not grant visas to Israeli gymnasts who intend to attend the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta,” Mahendra said.