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≡ THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ≡
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and on 28 February 2022, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to participate in international competitions.
The Indonesian announced on 10 October that it would not issue entry visas for the Israeli team to compete at the FIG World Artistic Championships in Jakarta, which began on 19 October. Appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the Israel Gymnastics Federation were unsuccessful and the IOC said in an unhappy statement on 17 October that it had intervened, but to no avail.
While the IOC’s statement said it would take up the matter at its December Executive Board meeting last Friday, that was determined not to be good enough. On Wednesday (22nd), the IOC issued a stern statement underscoring its anger at the situation. It included:
“In order to avoid similar situations in the future, the IOC EB decided the following:
“● To end any form of dialogue with the NOC of Indonesia about hosting future editions of the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Olympic events or conferences until such time as the Indonesian government provides the IOC with adequate guarantees that it will allow access to the country for all participants, regardless of nationality, to attend.
“● To recommend to all International Federations not to host any international sports events or meetings in Indonesia until such time as the Indonesian government provides adequate guarantees to the International Federations that it will allow access to the country for all participants, regardless of nationality, to attend.
“● To adapt the Qualification Principles for the Olympic Games, requesting that the International Federations include guarantees on access to the respective country for all athletes in their hosting agreements for any Olympic qualification competition around the world.
“● To request the NOC of Indonesia and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to come to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne to discuss the situation that occurred ahead of the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.”
This places more power behind the IOC’s position that “all eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to take part in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination by the host country, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of non-discrimination, autonomy and political neutrality that govern the Olympic Movement.”
Indonesia has been talking about hosting more events, possibly the 2036 Olympic Games and were clear that hosting the FIG Worlds was a stepping stone to more such events. As for the impact of the government decision to refuse entry to the Israel delegation – which has been Indonesia’s policy since at least 1962 – the Times of Israel reported comments on the day of the announcement of the cancellation of visas:
“Raja Sapta Oktohari, head of the national Olympic committee, said Indonesia was ready to accept any consequences for blocking the Israeli athletes from competing.
“‘We will review the consequences after the event,’ he said.”
The rejection of the Israeli gymnasts is a political issue for Indonesia, which is a Muslim-majority country which has strongly backed the establishment of a Palestinian state. With six Israeli gymnasts registered to compete at the FIG Worlds – the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation had requested visas for them, but later “withdrew” the request – anti-Israel agitation increased in Indonesia and there were safety concerns.
Two IOC members were involved: Indonesian member Erick Thohir, who is also the country’s Minister of Youth and Sport and publicly supported the visa shutout, and FIG President Morinari Watanabe, whose federation meekly accepted the Indonesian government decision.
Watanabe is also a member of the IOC’s three-person review committee overseeing the “neutrality” status of Russian and Belarusian athletes who are otherwise qualified to compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in northern Italy.
Their status is unchanged for now.
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Observed: To its credit, the IOC – and new President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) – recognize the significant threat the Indonesian government’s action presents to the Olympic Movement.
Further to its credit, it did not wait until December to do something about it. It has started the sanctions ball rolling and there will be more sanctions to come.
If the IOC is going to enforce anything, it has to enforce its stance on political neutrality, not just with Indonesia, but importantly – as it stated today – with the International Federations, who award these championship events.
In 2023, Indonesia refused to allow Israel to compete at the FIFA men’s U-20 World Cup and FIFA pulled the event and transferred it in a matter of a few weeks to Argentina (giving Indonesia the men’s U-17 World Cup a few months later, where Israel was not playing). FIG did nothing, even with a former IOC Presidential candidate as its leader.
That’s not good enough and the IOC knows it. More importantly, the IOC wants others to know it as well.
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