Indonesia Maintains Ban on Israeli Gymnasts Amid IOC’s Sanctions
Indonesia’s sports minister has declared the nation will uphold its prohibition on Israeli gymnasts competing at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, even as the International Olympic Committee terminates discussions about potential Olympic hosting opportunities, reports BritPanorama.
Erick Thohir acknowledged on Thursday that Jakarta fully comprehends the ramifications of barring Israeli athletes from the competition. The minister reaffirmed on social media that Indonesia “understands the consequences” of its stance but remains committed to the decision.
The International Olympic Committee’s executive board has announced it will cease “any form of dialogue” with Indonesia’s National Olympic Committee concerning future Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, or Olympic-related conferences until adequate participation guarantees are provided. The committee has urged all international sporting federations to avoid staging competitions in Indonesia until the government can assure athlete access.
This recommendation applies beyond just Olympic-sanctioned events, with the IOC requesting that qualification competitions worldwide include guarantees ensuring participants from all nations can attend. The committee has summoned representatives from both Indonesia’s Olympic Committee and the International Gymnastics Federation to its Lausanne headquarters for discussions about the situation.
These measures follow an appeal by Israel’s Gymnastics Federation to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which sought either guaranteed participation for its athletes or the relocation of the championships. Thohir emphasised that Indonesia’s position stems from constitutional obligations to preserve global stability while safeguarding domestic security and public welfare.
“We adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order, and the public interest in hosting every international event,” the former Inter Milan chairman stated on social media platforms. The minister explicitly connected the visa denials to Indonesia’s diplomatic stance, confirming that it aligns with Jakarta’s policy of severing relations with Israel until Palestinian statehood gains recognition.
Officials from the Indonesian government and the nation’s council of Islamic clerics had raised objections to the Israeli delegation’s participation, prompting authorities to block their arrival at the gymnastics championships. The Southeast Asian nation, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, declined to issue visas to Israeli competitors after both governmental authorities and Islamic religious leaders voiced opposition to their presence.
Jakarta’s governor, Pramono Anung, warned that allowing the athletes to compete would “obviously spark public outrage” given Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas in Gaza. Despite acknowledging that Indonesia cannot stage world championships, Olympic competitions, or Youth Olympic events while maintaining its current stance, Thohir insisted the country would persist in participating actively across various regional and international sporting competitions.
The ban notably prevented defending world floor exercise champion and 2020 Olympic gold medallist Artem Dolgopyat from defending his title at the Jakarta championships. In a sporting landscape fraught with political complexities, this situation starkly illustrates the intricate balance between national policies and global athletic collaboration.
