The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday recommended that global sports federations cease holding events in Indonesia after the country barred Israeli athletes from the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta.
The IOC’s executive board said that it was also ending “any form of dialogue” with Indonesia about hosting future Olympic events.
An Indonesian government official earlier this month said that Israeli athletes would be denied visas to participate in the world championships, which started on Sunday and are to end on Sunday.
Photo: AFP
Israel was among the 86 teams registered to compete. Their squad included 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat in the men’s floor exercise.
“These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic movement from showing the power of sport,” the IOC said.
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinians. The scheduled participation of Israeli athletes had sparked intense opposition within the country.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung earlier this month said that the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the Israel-Hamas war was unbearable, and that the arrival of Israeli athletes would cause deep emotional distress to the majority of Indonesians.
The IOC’s executive board met remotely this week to further discuss the situation in Indonesia and also the “recurrent global issue regarding athletes’ access to international competitions.”
“All eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to take part in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination by the host country,” it said, adding that the fundamental principles that govern the Olympic movement include “non-discrimination, autonomy and political neutrality.”
It said it was ceasing dialogue with Indonesia over hosting the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, and Olympic events and conferences until the Indonesian government gave “adequate guarantees” that all participants would be granted access to the country regardless of nationality.
In addition, it said it would recommend international sports federations do not stage tournaments, events or meetings in Indonesia until those guarantees were given.
The Indonesian Olympic committee has been invited to IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss the issue.
In response to the IOC’s announcement, Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir said that the government understood its decision to block the arrival of the Israeli gymnastics delegation would have consequences.
“Indonesia will continue to play an active role in various sporting events at the Southeast Asian, Asian and world levels, so that Indonesian sports can be an ambassador and a reflection of the nation’s greatness in the eyes of the world,” Thohir said in a written statement yesterday.
Indonesia is among the countries that have either confirmed or are considering a bid to host the 2036 Olympics, a list that also includes India and Qatar.
The next two Summer Olympics are to be held in Los Angeles in 2028 and in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.
Indonesia was stripped of hosting rights for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2023 amid political turmoil regarding Israel’s participation.
FIFA later awarded the Under-17 World Cup to Indonesia — Israel was not among the 24 teams who qualified for that tournament.
Since the 1962 Asian Games when Israel and Taiwan were excluded from Jakarta, Indonesia has maintained a consistent refusal to host Israeli delegations.
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