Antisemitism and Sport

We Jews and Israelis must get our heads out of the sand. Antisemitism is getting worse.

Did anyone hear of international condemnation when the International Judo Federation permitted Abu Dhabi to forbid Israeli sportsmen to wear the Israeli Flag on their uniforms?

Did anyone hear any international condemnation when Abudhabi officials wouldn't allow the Israeli National anthem to be played when Israel’s Tal Flicker won a Gold Medal?

Thai Boxing is much better at protecting Israel. Today on Shabbat we celebrated with neighbors whose son Kibedy Gordon won a Gold Medal as part of the Israeli Muaythai team at the IFMA European Championships 2017 in Paris. The team members wore shirts saying Israel, and the Israeli Flag was hung with all of the others.

Rio Olympics Report: No Sportsmanship in Anti-Israel Boycott

Israeli delegation at Rio olympics.. (photo credit:REUTERS) Jerusalem Post

The modern Olympics was envisioned to be an idyllic event when good sportsmanship and athletic prowess would override politics. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. The 2016 Rio Olympics has seen more of its share of refusals by Arab countries to compete and even ride a bus with Israeli athletes.

Rio 2016: Saudi competitor ‘forfeits match to avoid playing Israeli’
Political play in Rio: 'The Lebanese refused to board a bus with Israelis'
Israeli Olympic team snubbed by Facebook

This shouldn't be tolerated by the Olympic Committee. Any country showing such prejudice should be sent back home and not allowed to compete. Claims of injuries/illness, used as excused, must be examined by official neutral doctors.

And don't forget the deadly attack on the Israeli athletes forty-four years ago at the Munich 1972 Olympics.