JAKARTA: The Indonesian government reaffirmed on Thursday its decision to bar Israeli gymnasts from participating in a world championship event held in Jakarta, after the International Olympic Committee said it was cutting off discussions about any potential Olympic Games bid by Indonesia.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s senior law minister, said earlier this month that the country would not grant visas for Israeli athletes competing at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, as part of its “commitment to supporting Palestinian independence.”
Indonesia’s ban was later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which rejected appeals filed by the Israel Gymnastics Federation to guarantee its participation at the Jakarta event, which started on Sunday and runs through to Saturday, Oct. 25.
But the visa ban for Israelis sparked concerns for the IOC, leading to its executive board announcing on Wednesday that it was ending “any form of dialogue” with Indonesia about hosting future Olympic events, until Jakarta guarantees “that it will allow access to the country for all participants, regardless of nationality, to attend.”
The IOC also recommended global sports federations to cease holding events in the Southeast Asian country.
