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The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) confirmed that its national security team cleared its athletes to enter Indonesia for the World Gymnastics Championships last month, despite the Indonesian government blocking athletes from entering the country, citing security concerns.
An IGF spokesperson confirmed to Pak Gazette Digital that the country’s security team cleared its athletes.
“We received clearance from the Israeli security authorities to participate in the World Championship subject to the necessary security protocols in place. On our part, all preparations were complete: registration process, entry visas to Indonesia and confirmation from the Israeli security authorities,” the IGF said.
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Team Israel’s silver medalists celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Group All-around final on day fifteen of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena on August 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Israeli men’s gymnast Eyal Indig previously told Pak Gazette Digital that his country’s security team gave him and his teammates clearance to enter the city, citing decades-old security measures that the country’s sports teams have used since the 1972 Munich Olympics, when eight terrorists associated with the group Black September sneaked into the Olympic Village on a failed mission to take Israeli athletes hostage.
“For us it was very strange,” Indig said. “That same security did a scan a week before our flight, in Indonesia, they were in Indonesia, and they cleared everything in terms of security. So we had full clearance from the Israeli security team, and believe me, they wouldn’t clear anything that wasn’t safe. And our federation kept telling us it was safe.”
Indig later called Indonesia’s decision “a blatant incident of discrimination on the basis of nationality.”
The Indonesian embassy in the United States responded to Pak Gazette Digital’s request for comment by saying, “The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia has no further comments to share on this matter.”
Indonesian Sports Minister Erick Thohir previously defended his country’s decision in a statement in the last week of October.
“We adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order and public interest when hosting every international event,” Thohir said.
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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.
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.
The IGF further condemned Indonesia’s denial in a statement provided to Pak Gazette Digital.
“We consider the decision to ban the Israel National Gymnastics Team from participating in the World Championships in Indonesia to be both scandalous and deeply worrying for the integrity of international sport,” the statement read. “This decision is in complete contradiction to the fundamental principles of sport and fair competition and represents a dangerous slippery slope towards the exclusion of athletes for political, religious or social considerations.
“Behind these words are athletes who have dedicated their lives to excellence. They worked tirelessly and deserve the same opportunity to showcase their skills as all other gymnasts.
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Team Israel competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Group All-Around Final on day fifteen of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Porte de La Chapelle Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has chosen to remain impassive and allow the exclusion of the Israeli delegation, thus effectively granting the Indonesian government the approval it sought. But we will not remain silent. The Israel Gymnastics Federation and the Israel Olympic Committee have appealed to the CAS, and we look forward to a clear and definitive decision that will prevent this from happening again.”
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.
