Hatikvah ban at judo tournament
Israeli athletes won a number of medals at a judo tournament in Abu Dhabi last week, but tournament organisers refused to play the customary national anthem of the medallists.
ISRAELI athletes won a number of medals at a judo tournament in Abu Dhabi last week, but tournament organisers refused to play the customary national anthem of the medallists, who had all been informed prior to the event that they would not be permitted to compete under any Israeli symbols.
Tal Flicker stood on the podium to receive his gold medal in the men’s under-145 pound category on Thursday, the first day of the Grand Slam tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
He wore the uniform of the International Judo Federation (IJF) and received his medal under an IJF flag while the anthem of the federation was played. But video clips showed Flicker singing what appears to be Hatikvah.
The same day, Gili Cohen won a bronze medal in the women’s under-114 pounds category and received the same treatment.
Three Israeli athletes, Or Sasson, Tohar Butbul and Peter Paltchik won bronze on Saturday, bringing the total medal count at the event to five.
UAE athlete Rashad Almashjari refused to shake the hand of Butbul, after their first-round match. Almashjari is seen in a video backpedalling hurriedly to avoid the traditional handshake.
“As you can see I don’t have the flag,” Or Sasson told reporters, referring to his uniform.
“But my heart is always, always with the State of Israel. I hope I made you proud, and I will always continue to represent you with pride.”
Prior to leaving for Abu Dhabi, Flicker posted a photo of himself on Facebook wearing an Israeli uniform.
“We’ll do anything to get to Abu Dhabi and end up on the podium,” he wrote.
“Everyone in the world knows where we are from and which country we represent. I am the most proud to be Israeli.”
JTA
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