IOC says sport must be 'safe space' amid Israel gymnast row

The International Olympic Committee says athletics must stay a "safe space" aft it recovered "no resolution" to let Israel's athletes to return portion successful nan World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Indonesia said it would not assistance visas to nan Israel team for nan arena successful Jakarta from 19-25 October because of nan country's subject violative successful Gaza.

The Israeli Gymnastics Federation (IGF) said nan determination set a "dangerous precedent" and was captious of nan International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

A petition from nan IGF for urgent provisional measures to guarantee Israeli participation, aliases to move aliases cancel nan event, was rejected by nan Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) earlier this week.

Any lingering hopes nan impasse could beryllium resolved earlier nan arena starts connected Sunday now look to beryllium complete aft nan IOC issued a lengthy statement, external connected Friday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had contacted FIG arsenic good arsenic nan authorities of Indonesia and its Olympic authorities "to thief facilitate a solution" but "unfortunately, nary solution has been found".

"The IOC very overmuch regrets nan situation, particularly aft nan singular measurement towards a bid statement astatine nan bid acme successful Egypt, arsenic witnessed by nan president of Indonesia," nan connection said.

"The IOC executive committee will talk nan circumstantial business of Indonesia – for each stakeholders progressive – astatine its adjacent meeting.

"Sport must stay a safe abstraction for athletes to fulfil their dreams, and athletes must not beryllium held responsible for governmental decisions."

Indonesia, nan world's astir populous Muslim nation, has nary general negotiated ties pinch Israel but nan IGF says it had been fixed assurances its delegation would beryllium welcome.

Among nan athletes incapable to compete are defending world level champion Artem Dolgopyat.

The 28-year-old won Olympic level golden astatine nan Tokyo 2020 Olympics and metallic successful Paris past year. He is besides a two-time European champion.

The IOC reiterated its position that "eligible athletes, teams and sports officials" must beryllium capable to compete successful title "without immoderate shape of favoritism from nan big country" successful accordance pinch nan Olympic charter.

It added that it was nan "direct responsibility" of nan hosting state to guarantee this "principle is afloat respected".

Indonesia has cited its long-standing governmental and negotiated principles for nan decision.

During nan 1962 Asian Games, Indonesia likewise barred Israeli athletes - starring to its removal from nan 1964 Tokyo Olympics by nan IOC.

Although that ruling was overturned, Indonesia boycotted nan Games.

In March 2023 Indonesia was stripped of its correct to big football's Under-20 World Cup aft nan politician of Bali, wherever nan tie was owed to return place, refused to big nan Israel team.

Six months later, Israel launched its violative successful consequence to nan Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel connected 7 October 2023, successful which 1,200 group were killed and 251 taken hostage backmost to Gaza.

Since past much than 67,000 group person been killed by Israel's offensive, according to Gaza's Hamas-run wellness ministry. Its figures are seen arsenic reliable by nan United Nations and different world bodies.

More than 9 successful 10 residential buildings person been damaged aliases destroyed, according to nan UN.

Last period nan UN committee of enquiry formally declared Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians successful Gaza - though Israel rejected this.

On Monday, 20 surviving Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees were reunited pinch their families arsenic portion of a ceasefire deal.