Australia concerned about Israeli sailing ban

January 8, 2016 by J-Wire News Service
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Yachting Australia has joined its New Zealand and U.K. counterparts in expressing concern over the effective banning of Israeli competitors at the recent Youth World Championships in Malaysia.

yachtingIn a prepared release Yachting Australia’s CEO Matt Carroll  stated: “Through media reports Yachting Australia became aware of a serious issue at the recent Youth World Championships held in Malaysia. The reports indicate that Israeli sailors were apparently unable to compete due to unconscionable terms the Government placed on the issuing of visas to enter the country.

Yachting Australia has written to World Sailing, the international governing body of the sport, seeking clarification and to express its deep concern on this situation. The right of all Member National Associations to enter competitors in international sailing events is fundamental to our sport.

The World Sailing Constitution states that it is “to promote the sport of sailing in all its branches regardless of race, religion, gender, physical ability or political affiliation”.

Yachting Australia understands that World Sailing has obtained a report and scheduled urgent consideration of this issue at an Executive meeting on 8 January.

Following the meeting, Yachting Australia has requested that World Sailing make an immediate statement detailing the full facts so we are able to respond to our stakeholders and Australian authorities, and importantly that World Sailing sets a clear policy and process for the conducting of future events.”

Israeli windsurfers were told by Malaysia that in the event of victory the Israeli flag would not be raised nor Hatikvah played.

Israel is now facing a similar problem in Malaysia who will shortly host an international table tennis championship. Israeli competitors have not yet received visas.

Comments

2 Responses to “Australia concerned about Israeli sailing ban”
  1. Ron Jontof-Hutter says:

    The Europeans including “best friends” Germany appear to be quiet about this. Labeling Israeli goods takes precedence over labeling Antisemitism.

  2. Rachel Merhav says:

    In light of this outrageous behaviour by the Malaysian Islamist govt. world sporting bodies should not hold any sporting activities in this country or any other country where such racist, anti Jewish discriminatory policy exist. This must be changed.

    Lessons should be learnt from the 1936 Olympic Games held in Nazi’s Germany and the disastrous consequences – not only for the Jews – for not standing up against a fascist, racist regime.

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