Ari Steinberg, chairman of Israel’s National Basketball League and the Wingate Sports Institute and CEO of Ashmoret, the financial company of Israel’s teachers’ union, told guests at the Jerusalem Post New York Conference that sports have been severely affected by the state of war that Israel has been undergoing for the past three years, and called on international sports bodies to stand firm against political pressure, and protect the integrity of sports.
“In Israel,” Steinberg said, “Training has been disrupted. Professional leagues have had to cancel games and, at times, halt entire seasons. Teams lost the ability to host international matches at home. Overseas, Israeli athletes playing for international teams are facing major challenges, including attacks from antisemitic groups, protests, boycotts by competitors, and even teams that avoid signing Israeli players for fear of losing fans.”
Steinberg noted that Israeli Olympic gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat, who trains at Wingate, was unable to compete at the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia after Israel’s delegation was barred from participation. In the United States, Israeli NBA star Deni Avdija has faced backlash and hostility simply for expressing pride in being Israeli. “Increasingly, Israeli athletes are finding themselves judged not by their performance, but by their nationality.”
