Why did Indonesia ban Israeli athletes from competing?

After Indonesia banned Israeli athletes from participating in the Gymnastics World Championships currently underway in Jakarta, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that global sports federations stop hosting events in Indonesia. The IOC Executive Board issued a statement on the 22nd announcing the end of "any form of dialogue" with Indonesia regarding hosting future Olympic Games.

First, Indonesian government officials announced earlier this month that they would deny visas to Israeli athletes, barring them from participating in the World Championships, which opened last Sunday and run through this weekend. Israel is one of the 86 teams registered for the competition, including 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artyom Dolgopiat, who will compete in the men's floor exercise. The IOC Executive Board stated, "These actions deprive athletes of their right to peaceful competition and hinder the Olympic Movement from demonstrating the power of sport."

Second, Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has long been a staunch supporter of Palestine. The Israeli athletes' planned participation has sparked strong opposition in Indonesia. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anon stated earlier this month that the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the war between Israel and Hamas is unbearable, and that the arrival of Israeli athletes would cause deep emotional distress for most Indonesians.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board held a remote meeting this week to further discuss the situation in Indonesia and the "global issue of athletes' participation in international competition." The IOC stated that "all qualified athletes, teams, and sports officials must be able to participate in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination by the host country," adding that the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement include "non-discrimination, autonomy, and political neutrality." It stated that it would suspend dialogue with Indonesia regarding the hosting of the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Olympic events, and conferences until the Indonesian government provides "full guarantees" that all participants, regardless of nationality, will be allowed entry into the country.

The IOC Executive Board also stated that it would recommend that international sports federations refrain from holding championships, events, or conferences in Indonesia until such guarantees are received. The Indonesian Olympic Committee has been invited to IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss the issue. In response to the IOC's statement, Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Eric Thohir stated that the government understands the consequences of its decision to block the Israeli gymnastics delegation. In a written statement on the 23rd, Thohir said, "Indonesia will continue to play an active role in various sporting events at the Southeast Asian, Asian, and world levels, making Indonesian sports an ambassador for the country and a reflection of its greatness in the eyes of the world."

Indonesia is one of the countries that has confirmed or is considering a bid for the 2036 Olympics, along with India and Qatar. The next two Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028 and in Brisbane, Australia in 2032. Due to political unrest surrounding Israel's participation, Indonesia was stripped of its hosting rights for the 2023 U20 World Cup just two months before the tournament was scheduled to begin. FIFA, football's international governing body, later awarded Indonesia the rights to host the U17 World Cup, for which Israel was not among the 24 teams that qualified. Indonesia has refused to host an Israeli delegation since Israel and Taiwan were excluded from the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. In short, the ban stems from Indonesia's long-standing anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian foreign policy, combined with strong domestic religious and political pressure. It's not an isolated sporting incident, but rather a concentrated reflection of Indonesia's domestic political and diplomatic stance on sports. The Indonesian government would rather endure potential sanctions from international sports organizations than prioritize maintaining its political principles and image on both the domestic and international stages.