Indonesia defiant after IOC calls for no events over Israeli gymnast ban
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A generic picture of a gymnast at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
AFP
Follow topic:
JAKARTA – Indonesia has vowed to continue playing an “active role” in global sports after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged federations not to stage events there following the South-east Asian country’s ban on Israeli gymnasts.
The IOC’s executive board said on Oct 22 it would “recommend to all international federations not to host any international sports events or meetings in Indonesia” until it provided guarantees over access for all participants in competitions.
The board said it also ended dialogue with the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation on hosting any future Olympic events.
It came after Indonesia denied visas for Israelis to compete at the ongoing world artistic gymnastics championships in Jakarta, citing support for the Palestinians.
In a show of defiance, Indonesia’s Sports and Youth Minister Erick Thohir said on Oct 23 that Jakarta was aware its ban on Israelis “carries consequences”.
But he wrote on X: “Indonesia will continue to play an active role in various sports events at the South-east Asian, Asian and global levels, so that Indonesian sports can serve as an ambassador and a reflection of the nation’s strength in the eyes of the world.
“We... adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order and public interest in every international event organised.
“On that basis, Indonesia has taken steps to avoid the arrival of the Israeli delegation at the Gymnastics World Championships.”
Indonesia’s national Olympic committee declined to comment on the IOC move because it said discussions were ongoing.
Israel’s gymnastics federation appealed against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it was rejected.
In July 2023, Indonesia pulled out of hosting the World Beach Games following controversy over Israel’s participation.
In March that year, Indonesia lost the hosting rights to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup after two governors objected to Israel’s participation.
Both of those occurred before war between Israel and armed group Hamas broke out in Gaza, where there is currently a ceasefire in place.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto captured his third consecutive men’s individual all-around crown at the world championships on Oct 22, a distinction previously accomplished only by his compatriot Kohei Uchimura.
Hashimoto tallied 85.131 points to edge out China’s Zhang Boheng, who took silver with 84.333, while Switzerland’s Noe Seifert claimed a surprise bronze on 82.831 at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex.
“I’m really happy to have won the world championships, especially because I couldn’t win the individual gold medal in the Paris Olympic Games last year,” he said.
Hashimoto, who claimed gold at the Tokyo Games and world titles in 2022 and 2023, returned to form in the Indonesian capital after a disappointing 2024 Paris Games, where a finger injury resulted in him finishing sixth. Compatriot Shinnosuke Oka claimed gold on his Olympic debut.
The 24-year-old said the setback of missing the Paris podium eased the weight of comparisons with Uchimura, who won six consecutive world titles from 2009 to 2015.
“I think of Uchimura as superhuman (and) I want to do something that is superhuman too,” he said. “Being able to compete for (his record) is one of the greatest joys of my life.” AFP, REUTERS
