The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has condemned a recent decision by the Indonesian government to sanction Israel’s national gymnastics team. Indonesia denied Israeli athletes visas to enter the country for the upcoming 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, which begins this Sunday.

In a statement, the IOC emphasized its clear and principled position: “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, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of nondiscrimination, autonomy and political neutrality that govern the Olympic Movement.”

The statement continued, “It is therefore the direct responsibility of the host country, the organizer and the sports organizations directly concerned to make sure that this principle is fully respected and that all necessary assurances are provided by the relevant authorities of the host country in advance.”

The IOC also announced that its officials will discuss the situation with Indonesian authorities at their next meeting. “Sport must remain a safe space for athletes to fulfill their dreams; and athletes must not be held responsible for political decisions,” the statement added.

Indonesia justified its refusal to grant visas to Team Israel by citing the ongoing war in Gaza. However, on Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Israel’s request for intervention regarding this matter.

The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) responded to Indonesia’s sanction with a strong statement: “The rules are clear, and Indonesia’s actions constitute a blatant violation of them. This decision undermines the very foundations of sport and fair competition, and it delivers a severe blow to the morale of the gymnasts and staff who have worked tirelessly for this moment.”

This is not the first time Indonesia has faced controversy over its treatment of Israeli sports teams. The country was previously stripped of its right to host football’s Under-20 World Cup after the governor of Bali refused to allow Team Israel to participate in a game.

Indonesia’s latest sanction against the IGF reflects a broader pattern of restrictions placed on Israeli teams and fans in recent months. For example, the Israel Premier Tech cycling team was excluded from the upcoming Giro dell’Emilia race in Italy, scheduled for October 4, amid concerns over potentially disruptive pro-Palestinian protests.

In European soccer, the UEFA Europa League — the continent’s biggest club competition — was reportedly considering a vote to suspend Israel over the conflict in Gaza in September. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on October 3 that no such action would be taken against the Israeli team. He later met privately at FIFA headquarters with the leader of the Palestinian soccer federation, Jibril Rajoub, and praised his organization “for their resilience at this time,” according to The Associated Press.

Israeli sports fans have also faced restrictions. Supporters of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from attending a Europa League game in Birmingham, England, scheduled for November 6. This decision followed safety concerns after fans were attacked last fall in Amsterdam during a match against Ajax.

On a diplomatic front, former U.S. President Donald Trump oversaw a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last week. As part of the agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/18/sports/indonesia-denies-team-israel-gymnastics-visas-condemned-by-international-olympic-committee/