No visa: Indonesia bars Israeli gymnasts from World Championships
Israeli gymnasts, including reigning world floor champion Artem Dolgopyat, will be excluded from the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships after host nation Indonesia denied them entry visas. The move, stemming from Indonesia's opposition to Israel's military offensive in Gaza, has been condemned by the Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) as a "blatant violation" of sports rules and a discriminatory act.
The World Artistic Gymnastics Championships are set to begin without the Israeli delegation after host country Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, refused to grant entry visas to the team. The decision is a direct consequence of Indonesia's stance against Israel's ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
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The denial means Olympic gold medalist and reigning world floor champion Artem Dolgopyat, alongside five other gymnasts, will be unable to compete in the event, which runs until October 25th.
Legal appeals rejected
The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) immediately sought legal remedy, submitting an urgent request to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to compel the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to intervene. The IGF demanded that Cas either force the FIG to guarantee Israeli participation or "move or to cancel" the championships entirely, arguing the FIG's inaction constituted a "denial of justice" and "discrimination."
However, Cas rejected the IGF's request for urgent provisional measures on Tuesday. The Cas statement revealed that the FIG argued it had "no prerogatives" in the issuing of entry visas and that the Indonesian government's decision fell "outside the competence" of the sports organization. A second appeal hearing is not expected to be held before the championships begin on Sunday.
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The IGF expressed its deep disappointment with the ruling, stating that Indonesia's actions are a clear violation of international sports rules.
"The rules are clear, and Indonesia's actions constitute a blatant violation of them," read the IGF statement. "It is inconceivable that a country can bar another nation from competing in a World Championship while the governing bodies stand by. This decision undermines the very foundations of sport and fair competition."
Artem Dolgopyat, a two-time European champion who won Olympic floor gold in Tokyo, voiced his concern on Instagram, stating, "We are so disappointed for the gymnasts... [and] deeply concerned by the recent decisions that could negatively impact the future of all our delegations and the future of sport in general." He confirmed that despite continuing the fight for justice, they "will no longer be able to compete in these World Championships."
