Indonesia says it barred Israeli gymnasts from the worldwide occasion to keep up ‘public order and safety’.
Printed On 23 Oct 2025
The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged world sports activities federations to not host any sporting occasions in Indonesia after it banned Israeli gymnasts from the continued Inventive Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, a call the host nation mentioned it took to “preserve public order”.
The IOC’s government board issued a press release on Wednesday saying it has really useful that world sports activities our bodies stop holding occasions in Indonesia.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, denied visas to Israeli gymnasts earlier this month amid Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which means they may not participate within the championship that started on Sunday.
Jakarta mentioned the transfer was in step with Indonesia’s coverage of chopping ties with Israel till it recognises the independence of the state of Palestine.
In its strongly-worded assertion, the IOC mentioned it was additionally chopping off all discussions about any potential Olympic Video games bid by Indonesia till the federal government supplied assurances that each one athletes, no matter nationality, could be eligible to compete there in future.
Indonesia has repeatedly expressed an curiosity in internet hosting the 2036 Summer season Olympics, however the IOC resolution all however buried its possibilities of touchdown the Video games in 11 years.
Following the IOC’s assertion, Sports activities Minister Erick Thohir mentioned Indonesia “understands the implications of its resolution”, including that the transfer was designed to keep up public order.
“We adhere to the precept of sustaining safety, public order, and the general public curiosity in internet hosting each worldwide occasion,” Thohir posted on X.
He added that the precept was a part of Indonesia’s structure and primarily based on its obligation to keep up world order.
“We perceive that this resolution carries penalties, whereby so long as Indonesia can not settle for the presence of Israel, the IOC has determined that Indonesia can not host world championships, Olympic occasions, Youth Olympic Video games, and different actions below the Olympic umbrella,” Thohir mentioned.
The IOC mentioned it might change qualification rules to incorporate ensures for entry of all athletes, no matter nationality, for any qualification occasion for an Olympic Video games.
It ordered the Indonesian Olympic Committee and the Worldwide Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to attend a gathering on the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to debate the matter. It didn’t present a date for the assembly.
Final week, the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected appeals by the Israel Gymnastics Federation to be allowed to compete on the championship.
The CAS additionally turned down Israel’s request to drive the FIG to ensure Israel’s participation, or alternatively, cancel or transfer the inventive worlds.
The FIG didn’t threaten to take the occasion away from Indonesia as stipulated in its statutes for instances the place the host refuses to difficulty visas. Israel wished the FIG “taking notice” of the federal government assertion to be annulled, however CAS additionally rejected that on October 14.
