International Olympic Committee leaders were unable “to help facilitate a solution” to Israeli athletes being barred by the Indonesian government from attending a gymnastics world championships, but continue to be concerned.
“The IOC very much regrets the situation,” the Switzerland-based organization said in a news release, adding, “Sport must remain a safe space for athletes to fulfill their dreams; and athletes must not be held responsible for political decisions.”
Now, the powerful IOC Executive Board, led by new IOC President Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, intends to take up “the specific situation of Indonesia — for all stakeholders involved — at its next meeting,” currently scheduled for Dec. 9-10.
While it’s not clear what will be discussed, the IOC has the sole authority to determine whether a national Olympic committee is recognized and eligible to share in the billions of dollars in revenues from the sale of worldwide sponsorships and other sources.
Two years ago, the IOC suspended Russia’s national Olympic Committee over issues related to the invasion of Ukraine. That suspension, which remains in place, spelled out that Russia can’t receive any funding from the Olympic movement.
Indonesia is also bidding to host the 2036 Summer Games. Yael Arad, chair of Israel’s national Olympic committee and an IOC member, told a podcast recently, “Indonesia is not worthy of hosting sporting events, and we will act on all levels to ensure that this remains the case.”
In response to Indonesia’s treatment of Israeli athletes, the IOC said its position is clear, that “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.”
That makes it “the direct responsibility of the host country, the organizer and the sports organizations directly concerned to make sure that this principle is fully respected,” the IOC said in the news release posted Friday.
Earlier this month, Raja Sapta Oktohari, the president of Indonesia’s national Olympic committee, “expressed respect” for the decision not to allow Israel to participate in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, according to a news release about the event.
“The decision was made after careful consideration,” he said. “There are greater interests at stake — namely ensuring that the world championship proceeds safely, orderly, and successfully for everyone involved."
Indonesia, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, denied the Israeli gymnastics team, including athletes and officials, visas to enter the country for the world championships that began Sunday and continue through Saturday.
The majority Muslim country’s senior minister of law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said in an Instagram post that it was done “in line with Indonesia’s commitment to support Palestinian independence,” according to a translation.
The action came even though a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, was in effect. The IOC noted Indonesia’s president was a witness to “the remarkable step towards a peace agreement at the Peace Summit in Egypt.”
An appeal on behalf of the six Israeli athletes who qualified for the competition in Jakarta, made to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, is still ongoing, although the court rejected requests for immediate action.
For its part, the IOC said once the organizations became aware of the situation, “it has, on all levels, been in touch with the International Gymnastics Federation, the IOC member in the country, the National Olympic Committee and the government of Indonesia.”
Despite those efforts, the IOC said, “Unfortunately, no resolution has been found.”