The Israeli Gymnastics Federation has filed a lawsuit against the Indonesian government after its athletes were banned from competing in the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta.
The decision followed Indonesia’s refusal to issue visas for the Israeli team.
Indonesia Revokes Israeli Athletes’ Visas
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung voiced his opposition to Israeli participation, citing concerns over public reaction.
“For me, the most important thing is not to issue visas, so they don’t go to Jakarta, because there’s no benefit in a situation like this: having Israeli gymnasts compete in Jakarta. It will definitely incite public anger under these circumstances,” he said at Jakarta City Hall, as reported by Kompas.com.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and several members of the House of Representatives also expressed their rejection of Israel’s involvement. The government’s stance reflects Indonesia’s long-standing policy of not establishing diplomatic relations with Israel until it recognises an independent Palestinian state.
Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir confirmed that he is aware of the lawsuit and said the government is prepared.
“We will face the lawsuit with honour,” he told AntaraNews. He added, “Of course, there are separate regulations, both at the CAS level and especially in Indonesia, regarding this matter.”
The minister reiterated that Indonesia’s decision is consistent with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, which firmly maintains no normalisation of ties with Israel while the Palestinian question remains unresolved.
Israel Appeals to CAS
In response, the Israeli Gymnastics Federation released a statement condemning Indonesia’s decision and confirming its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The organisation argued that the ban undermines the fairness of global competition.
“Indonesia’s decision is not only outrageous, but also extremely concerning for the fairness of world sport,” the federation said in a statement quoted by The Times of Israel. It added that it would “challenge this decision with all available means.”
The appeal includes a request to ensure that Israeli athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Artem Dolgopyat, can continue to participate in international competitions without political barriers. The federation’s email statement, sent on Saturday evening, stressed its determination to defend its athletes’ right to compete.
The legal challenge now places the issue before CAS, which will weigh the competing claims of sporting fairness and national sovereignty. While international sporting bodies generally oppose bans based on political grounds, host nations retain control over visa issuance.
The dispute echoes earlier controversies in international sport when geopolitical tensions affected competition.
For Indonesia, the refusal reflects not only domestic sentiment but also its foreign policy stance. For Israel, the case represents a defence of its athletes’ access to world sporting platforms.
