IOC says sports events should not be hosted in Indonesia after Israeli gymnasts banned

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged international sports federations to not host events in Indonesia after the country banned Israeli gymnasts from a competition there.

The athletes had planned to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships taking place in Jakarta this week.

But Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, said last week it would not grant visas to the team because of the Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

The IOC condemned the decision and on Wednesday said it was cutting off discussions about any potential Olympic Games bids by Indonesia.

Jakarta has expressed an interest in hosting the 2036 summer Olympics.

The IOC said it would not reverse its stance until the Indonesian government provided assurances that all athletes, irrespective of nationality, would be eligible to compete there.

Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel and has previously barred Israeli athletes from competing on its soil, citing long-held political and diplomatic reasons.

But the Israel Gymnastics Federation had said it believed its athletes would be able to compete.

After the gymnasts were banned they tried to launch an emergency case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the event to be cancelled or moved, or for Israeli participation to be guaranteed.

The case was rejected.

This is not the first time in recent years that Indonesia has been penalised for restricting Israeli athletes from participation.

In March 2023 Indonesia was stripped of its right to host the Under-20 football World Cup after Bali's provincial mayor refused to host the Israeli team.

Israel launched its military operation later that year in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 captured and taken to Gaza.

Since then more than 67,000 people in Gaza have been killed by Israel's military, according to the territory's health officials.

The same numbers are used by the UN and humanitarian aid bodies. Experts say the death toll is likely even higher.

Last month, a UN commission of inquiry formally declared that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel has rejected that finding.

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