Israel gymnastics federation to appeal ‘outrageous’ ban from World Championship
Indonesia has refused to grant visas to Israeli athletes for artistic championships, which begin in Jakarta on October 19
The Israel Gymnastics Federation said it was appealing Indonesia’s decision to block the country’s gymnasts from competing in a world championship, calling the move by the world’s largest Muslim-majority country “outrageous”.
The Southeast Asian nation said on Friday it had denied visas to Israeli gymnasts amid an outcry over the war in Gaza, costing the country’s athletes a spot in this month’s World Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Jakarta.
In an emailed statement late on Saturday, the Israeli federation called Indonesia’s decision “both outrageous and deeply troubling for the integrity of international sport”.
It said it had submitted an urgent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking an injunction to allow Israeli athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Artem Dolgopyat, to participate in the competition.
“We intend to challenge this decision with every means available,” the group said.
Indonesia, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel, cited objections from groups such as a council of Islamic clerics and the local government in the capital Jakarta, where the championship will be held from October 19, for its decision to bar the athletes.