Indonesia’s Olympics bid on the line after blocking Israeli gymnasts
But he offered the parliament something no Indonesian leader had done before: a promise to officially recognize Israel, albeit on the condition that Palestine be given a state.
Prabowo’s first year in office was also marked by his attempts to raise Indonesia’s status on the world stage by attending global summits, signing trade agreements and meeting frequently with other world leaders, unlike former president Joko Widodo, who showed relatively little interest in foreign affairs.
President Donald Trump and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Gaza summit in Egypt.Credit: Getty Images
But the suffering in Gaza is also felt closely in Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest Muslim majority, and gymnastics does not inspire as much enthusiasm as football.
It remains to be seen whether Indonesians will be upset by the IOC’s stance on future sporting events and the 2036 Olympics.
Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said on Thursday that he was “not worried” about the IOC rebuke and that the government had “strong reasons” to block the Israeli team.
“We understand this [our] “The decision has consequences,” he said.
Artem Dolgopyat from Team Israel will compete on Pommel Horse at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to be held in Belgium in 2023.Credit: Getty Images
The IOC said it could change its position if Indonesia provided “sufficient guarantees that it will allow all participants, regardless of nationality, to participate in the events.”
This week, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation also moved to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing, even as neutral athletes, in next year’s Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games qualifiers.
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The IOC has banned Russians from competing under its flag at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the ISSF’s denial that athletes competed neutrally appears to contradict the IOC’s directive to Indonesia to allow all athletes “regardless of nationality” to compete in tournaments.
The IOC has been contacted for comment.
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