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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has aired its current disagreement with the Indonesian government after Israeli gymnasts were barred from entering the country for the world championships in October.
The IOC confirmed to Pakinomist Digital that Indonesia has not accepted any of the committee’s requested guarantees in the wake of the incident.
“The IOC held meetings with World Gymnastics and the NOC in Indonesia to discuss the events that happened in October. So far, the IOC has not received the desired guarantees from the government,” an IOC statement read.
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The silver winners, Team Israel, celebrate on the podium during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Group All-Around Final medal ceremony on day fifteen of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris, France, on August 10, 2024. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Pakinomist Digital has reached out to the Indonesian Embassy in the United States for comment.
The IOC has previously condemned the country for its denial of visas to the Israeli athletes, declaring it a breach of the international charter. All talk of Indonesia hosting a future Olympics ended and the IOC HAD advised global organizers not to plan any major events in the country.
“These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic movement from demonstrating the power of sport,” IOC The executive board said so in a statement in October. “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, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of non-discrimination, autonomy and political neutrality that govern the Olympic Movement.”
The Indonesian government cited security concerns for its decision to deny visas to the Israeli team, warning of potential threats within its country to the safety of the Israeli athletes and risking the safety of others.
However, Team Israel claimed that its own country’s security details determined that the country was safe to enter and cleared its athletes to travel there.
“We received permission from the Israeli security authorities to participate in the World Championships, provided that the necessary security protocols were in place. From our side, all preparations were completed – the registration process, entry visa to Indonesia and confirmation by Israeli security authorities,” the Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) previously told Pakinomist Digital.
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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 the Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris, France on August 10, 2024. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Israeli men’s gymnast Eyal Indig previously recalled the days leading up to their visa denial in an interview with Pakinomist Digital.
“The formal reason given by the Indonesian government was that our participation would endanger us and the other national delegations,” Indig said. “For us, it was very strange… The same security guard did a scan a week before our flight, in Indonesia, they were in Indonesia, and they cleared everything security-wise. So we had full authorization from Israel’s security team, and you can believe me, they wouldn’t approve 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.”
Israeli women’s gymnast Lihie Raz told Pakinomist Digital: “We were disappointed and frustrated, because for us sport is a place free from politics.”
Indonesian Sports Minister Erick Thohir previously defended his country’s decision in a statement in the last week of October.
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Lihie Raz of Team Israel practices on the vault during a gymnastics practice ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 25, 2024. (Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages)
“We adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order and public interest in hosting any international event,” Thohir said.
Indonesia was earlier stripped of the right to host the Under-20 World Cup when Bali’s governor refused to host Team Israel in a match.
