NEW YORK - The World Jewish Congress is urging the leadership of the International Judo Federation to intervene in the decision of the organizing committee of a major judo tournament in the United Arab Emirates to ban the Israeli team from displaying its national symbols during the competition.
Repeating protocol from the competition two years ago, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam has announced Israeli participants will not be permitted to wear the Israeli flag on their uniform and the national anthem will not be played if they win.
Israel Judo Federation has announced that it will compete despite the prohibition.
WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer sent a letter Thursday to International Judo Federation Marius Vizer urging him to “take action against the decision” of the Abu Dhabi Organizing committee:
“An international tournament of this kind is inherently a celebration of national pride for the competing and winning teams. It is inconceivable that any national team should be stifled in this celebration. The Israeli team, as all other teams, should have every right to display its national flag and emblem, and sound its national anthem if victorious.
“As I am sure you know, the Israeli team has faced similar instances of official discrimination in a string of sporting events on the international playing field, including at this very same competition two years ago.
“These prohibitions subvert the very nature of comraderie that sports federations such as yours strive to uphold, to bridge divides between countries and people and honor the highest of athletic abilities.
“World sport federations have an obligation to safeguard the fair and equal treatment of all national teams, and to ensure that the countries privileged to host esteemed international events abide by the same principles.
“We call upon the International Judo Federation to step in and protect the rights of the Israeli national judo team and keep the spirit of sport free of political discrimination.”
