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Controversy has grown over the Indonesian government's decision. visa refusal Israeli gymnastics team on Saturday, when the president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) spoke about it.
FIG President Morinari Watanabe addressed the situation at a press conference early Saturday morning, saying he agreed with recent concerns expressed about the situation International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a statement on Friday ahead of the 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, which starts on Sunday.
“I agree [with] IOC statement,” Watanabe said. “Sports are separate from politics. All athletes have an equal right to participate in a sporting event. The IOC and FIG must protect this right. This is for the sake of the Olympic Charter that we are writing.”
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International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe speaks at a press conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, January 30. (Fabrice Coffrini/Poole/Getty Images)
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 that this time we cannot protect the rights of athletes from one country. But on the other hand, with the changing global situation, how to protect the participating athletes becomes a challenging task,” he said.
“We heard from the Indonesian government that this was a measure to ensure the safety of the participating athletes, including athletes from one country, as well as the residents of the city of Jakarta, so the reason is not political, this is what we are hearing.[ing]”
Fig general secretary Nicholas Buompane added that the organization had also been informed of groups that could pose a threat in the presence of the Israeli team.
“It is true that here in Indonesia there were some groups that were unhappy with the visit of the Israeli delegation and then made threats. So this has been seriously taken into account,” Buompane said.
“What about the safety of everyone involved? This is also something we are committed to ensuring in our bylaws to ensure the safety of everyone involved. So this is a difficult question. And as we look at the last few weeks, several things have happened.”
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The Israeli team competes in the group all-around finals in rhythmic gymnastics during the Paris Games at the Porte de la Chapelle arena in Paris on August 10, 2024. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Buompane cited several other incidents of violence that have occurred in recent months at international sporting events involving the Israeli team. These cases included pro-Palestinian protests at the Tour de Spain, which caused the event to be temporarily stopped amid protests over Israeli cyclistsand football matches involving Israeli teams.
“The last few days have been difficult, but we, especially the president, have been doing everything we can, trying non-stop to find some solution, and then, at a certain point, you find yourself in a situation where there is nothing more you can do,” Buompane said.
Watanabe and Buompane were asked whether they considered the Indonesian government's decision to be a violation of the FIG's statutes, which protect equal treatment and participation of each country's athletes, and whether there would be consequences for the Indonesian gymnastics federation.
Buompane said they did not consider this a violation, saying other laws that prioritize safety must be taken into account.
“So it’s a violation in a sense, but we also have a defense for that. Because you can’t just pull out one article that everyone is pointing to at the moment, because there are others that will help us protect ourselves,” he said.
The IOC statement on Friday directly condemned the Indonesian government's decision.
“The IOC's position of principle is very clear: all eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to participate in international sporting competitions and events without any form of discrimination on the part of 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,” it said. IOC statement.
Israeli gymnasts celebrate the group all-around final in rhythmic gymnastics during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Porte de la Chapelle in Paris, August 10, 2024. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP)
“It is therefore the direct responsibility of the host country, the organizer and the sports organizations directly concerned to ensure full compliance with this principle and to provide all necessary guarantees from the relevant authorities of the host country in advance.”
The IOC also said its officials would discuss the situation with Indonesia at its next meeting.
“Sports must remain a safe space for athletes to pursue their dreams; “Athletes should not be held responsible for political decisions,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Israel's request to intervene.
The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) issued a statement regarding the sanctions.
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“The rules are clear and Indonesia's actions constitute a flagrant violation of them. It is inconceivable that a country could ban another country from participating in the World Cup while its governing bodies fail to act,” the statement, relayed via the BBC, said.
“This decision undermines the very foundations of the sport and fair competition and is a serious blow to the morale of the gymnasts and staff who have worked tirelessly for this moment.”
Previously, Indonesia was stripped of its right to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup when the governor of Bali refused to host the Israeli team at the game.
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