Yachting Australia stands up for Israel
YACHTING Australia has written to World Sailing “to express its deep concerns” about Israeli athletes effectively being banned from competing at the 2015 Youth World Championships in Malaysia last month.
YACHTING Australia has written to World Sailing “to express its deep concerns” about Israeli athletes effectively being banned from competing at the 2015 Youth World Championships in Malaysia last month.
The Israel Sailing Association (ISA) was told that athletes could not compete under the Israeli flag and they would not be able to have any symbol that is identifiable with Israel on their clothes or surfboards.
The competitors were also not given visas and, as a result, Yoav Omer and Noy Drihan were not able to defend their titles.
“The right of all member national associations to enter competitors in international sailing events is fundamental to our sport,” Yachting Australia chief executive officer Matt Carroll said in a statement.
“The World Sailing constitution states that it is ‘to promote the sport of sailing in all its branches regardless of race, religion, gender, physical ability or political affiliation’.”
World Sailing president Carlo Croce said that he would not accept a situation where one nation is unable to compete.
“World Sailing is committed to ensuring participation in our sport by competitors from all nations, and is taking this issue seriously,” he said.
“World Sailing expects the organising authority of its events to allow sailors from all nations to compete on an equal basis,” he insisted.
“This expectation is made clear in the bid process and is set out in the contractual documentation governing our events.”
Following an investigation by World Sailing, the governing body announced sanctions could be placed on Malaysia.
“In the future the organisers of all international sailing competitions will be required to comply with specific conditions to ensure that all competitors from all countries can participate equally,” World Sailing said in a statement.
“If these conditions are not met specific sanctions will be applied to any future international sailing competitions held in that country.”
While Malaysia cannot turn back the clock and allow the Israelis to compete at the yachting championships, they still have time to give visas to several Israelis who are hoping to compete at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in the country next month.
International Table Tennis Federation CEO Judit Farago said if they don’t grant the visas, Malaysia will not be awarded any world title events in the future.
And the Zionist Federation of Australia has written to Table Tennis Australia chairman Will Goodier and asked him to join the chorus of condemnation from countries around the world.
“We ask Table Tennis Australia to voice dismay over the Malaysian government’s betrayal of Olympic values and UNESCO principles,” the letter said.
JOSHUA LEVI
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