More boycotts? The Gaza War and its consequences for sport

Fethi Nourine still has to serve his ban for eight years before the Algerian judoka can take part in competitions again. In order to avoid a possible duel with an Israeli and thus demonstrate his support for Palestine, Nourine boycotted the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The International Judo Federation then banned the athlete for ten years. Nourine and his coach “used the Olympic Games as a platform for protests and to promote political and religious propaganda,” the Judo Association said in its statement.

Nourine's withdrawal was one of the exceptions in Tokyo. But what is happening in Paris? From this Thursday there are less than nine months until the opening ceremony of the games in France. The escalation of the situation in the Middle East following the major attack on Israel by the Islamist Hamas is also affecting professional sports. Athletes, Muslim or Jewish, Israel supporters or Palestine supporters, could increasingly use the Olympic stage for their political messages this time - and thus violate the Olympic Charter. The Israeli karate fighter Ronen Gehtbarg (l.). © ANSA / Tamas Kovacs

“The basic idea of the Olympic Games is to unite the entire world in peaceful competition. The Olympics can be an example of a world where everyone has the same rules and respects each other. Sport must build bridges instead of erecting walls or deepening divisions,” said the IOC in response to a dpa request. “Athletes cannot be held responsible for the actions of their governments.”

Wrestler Khalil: “How should I think about sports?” The Palestinian wrestler Rabbia Khalil also wants to qualify for the most prestigious sporting event in the world, even if the season highlight is currently meaningless for him. “How am I supposed to think about sport and talk to the Palestinian wrestling association in Ramallah about future plans when my compatriots are being killed in Gaza and fighting for their lives?” asked the Cologne-based martial artist and added: “I assume that More and more Arab or pro-Palestinian athletes will boycott competitions if they have to compete against Israeli athletes. Athletes will also be increasingly willing to accept the consequences.”

If Khalil had to compete against an Israeli tomorrow, he wouldn't do it. “But that has no religious reasons because he is Jewish. “But because there has always been war between the two peoples,” explained Khalil, whose grandparents once fled Palestine. In the past, it was mainly Arab athletes who boycotted competitions against Israelis or attracted attention through controversial behavior. The Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby refused to shake hands with the Israeli Or Sasson at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In 2008 in Beijing, the Iranian Mohammad Alirezaei did not take part in the swimming heats for the 100 meter breaststroke because the Israeli Tom Beeri was also in the pool.

There were similar incidents outside of the games too. The Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer was banned from entering the Arab Emirate of Dubai in 2009. At a 2017 judo competition in Abu Dhabi, Israeli judokas were only allowed to compete without national symbols and the national anthem was not played.

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More boycotts? The Gaza War and its consequences for sport

Conflicts between pro-Palestinian and Israeli athletes occur again and again in sport. After the major attack by the Islamist Hamas, many experts are concerned about the 2024 Olympics.

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