Indonesia Defends Banning Athletes From Israel After Olympic Committee Urged Boycott

Indonesia defended its decision to block Israeli gymnasts from a world championship event Thursday, saying the move maintains public order despite pushback from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Sports Minister Erick Thohir said Jakarta understands the consequences of preventing Israeli athletes from participating in the gymnastics world championship held in the capital, according to Times of Israel.

“We at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as representatives of the Indonesian Government, adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order, and public interest in every international event organized,” Thohir said on his social media account, according to a translation.

He added that the principle is part of Indonesia’s constitution and is motivated by an obligation to “uphold world order.”

Thohir responded to an IOC statement urging all international sporting federations not to host sporting events in Indonesia. The committee also cut off all discussions about any possible Olympic bid by Indonesia, which had expressed interest in hosting the 2036 summer games. (RELATED: Left-Wingers Taunt Israeli Athlete Moment He Steps On Field. Minutes Later, He Leaves Them Dead Silent)

Kami di Kemenpora, sebagai wakil Pemerintah Indonesia, berpegang pada prinsip untuk menjaga keamanan, ketertiban umum dan kepentingan publik dalam setiap penyelenggaraan event internasional. Langkah ini sesuai dengan ketentuan peraturan perundang-undangan yang berlaku. Prinsip… pic.twitter.com/c7uYsiT2bW

— Erick Thohir (@erickthohir) October 23, 2025

Israel was among 86 teams registered to compete in the championships, according to the Associated Press (AP). Israel’s team included world champion and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat in the men’s floor exercise.

“These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic movement from showing the power of sport,” the IOC’s executive board said, the AP reported. Jakarta Gov. Pramono Anung said the humanitarian catastrophe from the Israel-Hamas war is unbearable and that Israeli athletes would cause serious emotional distress to most Indonesians.

The world’s largest Muslim-majority country denied visas to Israeli athletes, citing objections from the government and its council of Islamic clerics, according to The Times of Israel. Jakarta said the move aligns with Indonesia’s policy of severing ties with Israel until it recognizes the independence of a Palestinian state, the outlet reported.

Thohir said Indonesia understands that if it continues to prohibit Israeli athletes, it cannot host world championships, Olympic and Youth Olympic events, or other sporting events under the Olympic umbrella, according to The Times of Israel. However, Indonesia remains committed to participating in regional and international sporting events.

Indonesia has routinely refused to host Israeli delegations since the 1962 Asian Games, when Israel and Taiwan were excluded from Jakarta, the outlet reported. In July 2023, Indonesia pulled out of hosting the World Beach Games following backlash over Israel’s participation.