Israel Gymnastics Banned from World Championships

For months, the Israeli gymnastics team, headlined by 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending men’s floor exercise world champion Artem Dolgopyat, had been expecting to participate in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta. Even though Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, one that has long supported Palestinians and prohibited Israeli athletic delegations from competing on its soil, the Israeli Gymnastics Federation claimed that it had been assured by Indonesian officials this summer that the Israeli team could compete in last week’s world championship.

However, in early October, in light of the war in Gaza, Indonesia reversed course and announced it was denying visas to Israeli gymnasts planning to travel to Jakarta. Subsequently, Israel had no representation at the gymnastic world championships.

Despite the recent Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Israel’s planned arrival in Jakarta continued to trigger intense opposition among some Indonesians. Ultimately, their vociferous protests did not fall on deaf ears as earlier this month, Indonesia’s senior minister of law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, officially declared that the Israeli team would be forbidden from entering the country, while adding in a video statement that the decision aligned with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s prior directives on various occasions and his speech at the UN General Assembly, which chastised Israel for its actions on the Gaza Strip. (Mahendra did acknowledge that the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation had previously submitted a sponsorship letter for six Israeli athletes to secure visas, but that “the federation has withdrawn the sponsorship letter.”)

In response to the denial of visas, the Israeli Gymnastics Federation swiftly appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), mandating that it either guarantee Israel’s participation or enforce a move or cancellation of the world championships. CAS did not view the appeal favorably, ultimately denying Israel’s petition on the grounds that the International Gymnastic Federation (FIG) had no authority to intervene in Indonesia’s visa policies.

On behalf of its gymnasts deprived of the opportunity to perform on the world’s grandest stage, the Israeli Gymnastics Federation (IGF) unleashed a torrent of criticism at the decisions rendered.

“The rules are clear, and Indonesia’s actions constitute a blatant violation of them. It is inconceivable that a country can bar another nation from competing in a World Championship while the governing bodies stand by,” the IGF official statement read. “This decision undermines the very foundations of sport and fair competition, and it delivers a severe blow to the morale of the gymnasts and staff who have worked tirelessly for this moment.”

IGF General Secretary Sarit Shenar went on to tell Reuters, “For this world championship, this is the end of the road. So, we cannot, no matter what will happen for the gymnast, we cannot fix their hearts.”

Once it became apparent that Israel would be barred entry, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the global, non-governmental, sports governing body of the Olympic Games, initially acknowledged having “great concern” and pledged to “discuss the specific situation” at its next Executive Board meeting.

The IOC went on to say, “The IOC’s principled position is very clear: all eligible athletes, teams, and sports officials must be able to participate in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination from the host country.

“It is therefore the direct responsibility of the host country, the organizer, and the sports organizations directly concerned to make sure that this principle is fully respected.

“Sport must remain a safe space for athletes to fulfill their dreams; and athletes must not be held responsible for political decisions.”

Just last week, the IOC made good on its word by dropping the hammer on Indonesia, calling for international sports federations to stop holding events, tournaments, and conferences in the country until policies are changed. The IOC took the punishment a step further, announcing that it was cutting off “any form of dialogue” with Indonesia regarding hosting future Olympic events until the Indonesian government provided “adequate guarantees” that all athletes would be granted access to the nation irrespective of nationality. This decision is particularly notable given that Indonesia is on the short list of countries, along with India and Qatar, that are in the running for a bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, following the 2028 Games in Los Angeles and 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia.

Following the IOC’s declaration, Indonesia’s Youth and Sport Minister Erick Thohir acknowledged that his country’s government understood its decision to bar entry of the Israeli gymnasts would have serious repercussions. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Olympic Committee has been invited to IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to further discuss the matter.

Indonesia’s recent decision, while sparking significant global backlash, is not without precedent. In 2023, Indonesia was disallowed from hosting the Under-20 Men’s World Cup by FIFA after Bali’s governor refused to host the Israeli team amid nationwide calls for Israel to be banned. Even going back to last century, the Southeast Asian country has proven to not be particularly hospitable to Israeli athletes: in 1958, Indonesia joined Turkey and Sudan in removing itself from the World Cup qualifiers so it didn’t have to compete against Israel; four years later, during the 1962 Asian Games, the Indonesian government neglected to provide visas to Israeli participants, compelling Israel to drop out.