IOC suggests no major sports competitions be held in Indonesia after the country banned Israeli gymnasts from participating in championships
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is recommending that international sporting events not be held in Indonesia after the country banned the Israeli national gymnastics team from participating in the world championships in Jakarta. Additionally, the IOC is ending any discussions with Indonesia about holding the Olympic Games in the future.
“These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic movement from showing the power of sport,” the IOC executive board said in a statement.
An Indonesian government official stated earlier this month that Israeli athletes would be denied visas to participate in the championships, which began on October 19.
Team Israel included 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat in the men’s floor exercise.
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Team Israel competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Group All-Around Final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Porte de La Chapelle Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Paris. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world and has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians. The planned participation of Israeli athletes had sparked intense opposition within the country. The IOC initially condemned the sanctions in a statement issued on Friday.
“The IOC’s principled position is very clear: all eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to participate in international sporting competitions and events without any discrimination by the host country, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of non-discrimination, autonomy and political neutrality that govern the Olympic Movement,” the IOC statement reads.
“It is therefore the direct responsibility of the host country, the organizer and the sports organizations directly concerned to ensure that this principle is fully respected and that all necessary guarantees are provided in advance by the relevant authorities of the host country.”
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 1, 2024. (Xinhua News Agency)
Indonesia said it would not grant visas to Team Israel because of the war in Gaza. Then, on Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Israel’s request to intervene.
The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) issued a statement addressing the sanction.
“The rules are clear and Indonesia’s actions constitute a flagrant violation of them. It is inconceivable that a country can ban another nation from competing in a World Championship while the governing bodies stand by,” the statement said, via the BBC.
“This decision undermines the very foundations of sport and fair competition, and deals a severe blow to the morale of the gymnasts and staff who have worked tirelessly to reach this moment.”
Morinari Watanabe speaks during a press conference after a presentation to other IOC members on January 30, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool/Getty Images)
The president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Morinari Watanabe, spoke out on the matter and addressed the issue on Saturday at the world championships.
“I agree [with] “The IOC statement,” Watanabe said. “Sports are separate from politics. All athletes have the same right to participate in the sporting event. The IOC and the FIG must protect that right. This is for the Olympic charter we are writing.”
Watanabe added that the FIG “deeply regrets” the lack of protection for Israeli gymnasts, but expressed respect for the Indonesian government’s decision.
“At the FIG, we deeply regret not being able to protect the rights of a country’s athletes this time. But on the other hand, with the global situation changing, how to protect participating athletes is a challenge,” he said. “We have heard from the Indonesian government that this was a measure to ensure the safety of participating athletes, including athletes from one country, and also the people of the city, the city of Jakarta, so the reason is not political. This is what we heard.[ing]”.
Previously, Indonesia was stripped of its right to host the under-20 soccer World Cup when the governor of Bali refused to host the Israeli team in a match.
Indonesia’s latest sanction is just the latest example of restrictions imposed on Israel’s sports teams and fans in recent months.
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Silver medalist Israeli gymnasts celebrate after the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Porte de la Chapelle stadium in Paris on August 10, 2024. (Lionel Buenaventura/News)
He israeli prime minister The Tech cycling team has been excluded from an upcoming race in Italy, the Giro dell’Emilia, scheduled for October 4, due to possible disruptions. Pro-Palestinian protests.
The UEFA Europa League, Europe’s largest football body, was reported to be moving towards a vote to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza in September.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that no action would be taken against the team on October 3. He reportedly later met privately at FIFA headquarters with the head of the Palestinian soccer federation, Jibril Rajoub, and praised his organization “for its resilience at this time,” according to The News.
Fans of Israeli teams have also been excluded from recent major events.
Fans of the israeli The Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team is banned from attending a Europa League match in Birmingham, England, on Nov. 6 for security reasons, after the team’s fans were attacked in Amsterdam at a match against Ajax last fall.
The News contributed to this report.
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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures such as Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.