Disclaimer: This is not fake news, not some kind of Purim spoof. No, we didn’t get our holidays confused.
The news: “Israeli athletes will participate in an international judo competition in the United Arab Emirates under the Israeli flag and with its national anthem played at medal ceremonies” — if, that is, Israel wins a medal.
Hatikvah playing in an Arab country? For decades now, the Arab world’s hostility toward Israel has infected the supposedly borders-free “no racism” world of sports. Not only have Israeli athletes been barred from competing in Arab countries, its national team is classified as European when it comes to regional competitions, such as international soccer.
As Israeli athletes have become more competitive, and as certain Arab countries, most notably the United Arab Emirates, have sought to raise their prestige by hosting international sporting competitions, an inevitable clash ensued. In one extreme case, an Israeli tennis player was denied a UAE visa in 2009, thereby eliminating her from a major tournament.
Other forms of discrimination against Israeli athletes have been blatant. Arab athletes’ refusing to shake the hand of their Israeli competitors; an Israeli judoka winning a gold at a UAE-hosted competition, only to accept his medal under the flag of the International Judo Federation — since UAE bans Israeli symbols.
But, slowly, the tide has been turning. The hypocrisy of the spirit of sports promoting racism could no longer be ignored. Earlier this summer, the IJF stripped Tunisia and UAE of two major judo events, citing, among other reasons, discrimination against Israeli athletes.
Now, the turnaround. The once-cancelled UAE event is now reinstated after the country’s judo federation confirmed in writing that all nations will compete under equal conditions.
One small move for a judoka. One giant leap for Israel.
Copyright © 2018 by the Intermountain Jewish News
