Kompas.com and Beritabali.com confirm that Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has formally refused to accept Israeli athletes scheduled to travel to Bali to participate in the ANOC World Beach Games 05-12 August 2022.
The Governor defends the rejection of the Israeli athletes conforms as being in conformance with the Indonesian Constitution and Regulations issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The decision, which places the future of the Olympic Sanctioned ANOC World Beach Games in doubt, comes after Koster’s decision to ban the Israeli team in the U-20 World Cup from playing in Bali caused The International Soccer Federation (FIFA) to remove the World Cup from Indonesia. The U-20 World Cup was originally set to be held in six Indonesian cities from 20 May until 11 June 2023.
Bali’s Governor reminds that Indonesia has no diplomatic relations with the State of Israel. Regulations issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explicitly forbid using or displaying the flag, national emblem, national anthem, or other attributes of the State of Israel.
Based on successful participation in qualifying rounds of play, Israel has earned the right to send athletes to Bali to participate in open ocean swimming and 3×3 beach basketball competitions. With the Governor of Bali refusing to host Israeli athletes, the ANOC World Beach Games organizers must now decide if the Bali Beach Games can proceed with the Israeli national team banned from play.
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