ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Updated:

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended all cooperation with Indonesia and urged global sports federations not to hold any events there, after the country barred Israeli gymnasts from competing at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships currently underway in Jakarta.
 
In a strongly worded statement released Wednesday, the IOC condemned Indonesia’s denial of entry visas to Israeli athletes, calling the move a blatant violation of the Olympic Charter’s principles of equality, non-discrimination, and political neutrality.
 
The organization announced it was halting all discussions about Indonesia’s potential bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and any future Olympic-related events or conferences in the country until the government guarantees that all athletes, regardless of nationality, will be allowed to compete on its soil.

Indonesia understands the consequences of its decision to prevent Israeli gymnasts from participating in a world championship event being held in Jakarta, its sports minister Erick Thohir said on Thursday.
 
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has no diplomatic relations with Israel and has long expressed solidarity with the Palestinians. Earlier this month, its government denied visas to the Israeli delegation amid domestic protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza, effectively excluding them from the 53rd World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Senior Indonesian officials cited objections from Islamic clerics and public sentiment as justification for the move.
 
The decision sparked international outrage. The Israel Gymnastics Federation called it “shocking and heartbreaking,” emphasizing that sports should remain a bridge between nations, not a stage for political boycotts.

Demonstrators hold placards calling for Israel to be banned from the International Olympic Committee and the International Basketball Federation, in support of Palestinians during a national protest, ahead of the two year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas from Gaza, in Dub
Demonstrators hold placards calling for Israel to be banned from the International Olympic Committee and the International Basketball Federation, in support of Palestinians during a national protest, ahead of the two year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas from Gaza, in Dub (credit: CLODAGH KILCOYNE/REUTERS)
 

In response, the IOC’s Executive Board held an emergency meeting this week to discuss both the Indonesian case and the broader issue of political interference in international sports.

 

“All eligible athletes, teams and officials must be able to take part in international competitions without any form of discrimination by the host country,” the IOC reaffirmed, underscoring that such restrictions “deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic Movement from showing the power of sport.”

 

As part of its measures, the IOC recommended that all international sports federations avoid scheduling competitions or meetings in Indonesia until the government provides concrete assurances of equal access for all participants. It also announced plans to modify Olympic qualification procedures, requiring host nations of any qualifying events to include explicit guarantees of non-discriminatory participation in their agreements.

 

The IOC further summoned the Indonesian Olympic Committee and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to Lausanne for discussions, though no date has been set.

 

Reacting to the IOC’s decision, Yael Arad, President of the Olympic Committee of Israel, welcomed the move from New York, where she has been in close contact with senior IOC officials.

 

“This decisive action sends a clear message against Indonesia’s disgraceful behavior,” Arad said. “Global sport is built on rules, values, and the absolute commitment to equality and fair play. Israeli athletes will continue to stand proudly on the world’s biggest stages, demonstrating excellence and integrity.”

 

Arad also expressed her gratitude to IOC President Kirsty Coventry for her leadership in confronting attempts to politicize sport.

 

“Her clear and principled stance in defense of fairness and basic decency strengthens the foundations of international sport,” she said.

<strong>'Fairness and reason will prevail'</strong><br>

The Israeli Olympic chief added that she hopes the IOC’s firm position will set a precedent for future cases and praised the recent return of international basketball games to Israel as “a positive sign that fairness and reason will prevail.”

The controversy further dims Indonesia’s hopes of hosting the Olympics in the near future.
 
Although the nation has repeatedly declared its interest in bidding for the 2036 Summer Games, the IOC’s decision effectively freezes those ambitions. The message from Lausanne was unmistakable: as long as a host country discriminates against athletes on political or national grounds, it will have no place in the Olympic Movement.

Reuters contributed to this article.