The Israeli Gymnastics Federation (IGF) has warned that a “dangerous precedent” has been set after its athletes were denied visas to compete in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, scheduled for 19–25 October 2025.

Indonesia cited Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza as the reason for the visa denial. The IGF requested urgent provisional measures from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to either guarantee participation for Israeli athletes or to move or cancel the event, but the appeal was rejected.

---

CAS and FIG Response

CAS noted that the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) stated it had “no prerogatives” over issuing entry visas. Consequently, CAS concluded that Indonesia’s decision falls outside the jurisdiction of FIG, leaving Israeli athletes unable to compete despite prior assurances from Indonesian authorities that the delegation would be welcome.

IGF secretary general Sarit Shenar described the situation as a slippery slope for sport worldwide:
“Our biggest fear is that this type of event can go on and can just be a setup example. If it happened in World Championship gymnastics, what’s next? It can be in any discipline, in any sport, in any competition. This precedent is very dangerous.”

Among those barred from competing is Artem Dolgopyat, the defending world floor champion. Dolgopyat, 28, won Olympic gold on floor in Tokyo 2020, a silver medal in Paris last year, and is a two-time European champion.

---

Indonesia’s Political and Historical Context

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Its stance stems from the country’s first president, Sukarno, who refused to recognize Israel. This long-standing policy has influenced Indonesia’s sports diplomacy for decades:

• In 1962, Indonesian authorities barred Israeli athletes from the Asian Games, resulting in Indonesia’s exclusion from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
• In March 2023, Indonesia lost hosting rights for the Under-20 FIFA World Cup after local officials refused to host Israel’s team.

Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir emphasized that Indonesia is prepared to respect the CAS ruling, saying the country would respond “respectfully, following the rules and regulations of CAS and Indonesia.”

---

Broader Political Context

The current visa denial comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Since then:

• More than 67,000 people have been killed in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures acknowledged by the UN.
• Over 90% of residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
• The UN commission of inquiry formally declared Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians, though Israel rejects this.
• On Monday, a ceasefire enabled the reunion of 20 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees with their families.

Shenar criticized the FIG for not taking proactive measures, noting that the IGF had raised the issue over a year ago:
“We were hoping for a diplomatic solution, way before a legal one. They [FIG] sent us a letter telling us everything is under control… There is no question who’s responsible for this mess in our eyes – FIG, part of the International Olympic Committee.”

---

International Reactions

Calls for Israel’s exclusion from international sports competitions have intensified in recent months:

• Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez advocated suspending Israel from sports competitions over its actions in Gaza.
• UEFA faced pressure to suspend Israeli football teams from competitions.
• The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team faced disruptions during this year’s Vuelta a España due to pro-Palestine protests.

The IGF continues to stress that sports and politics should remain separate, and expressed deep disappointment at the timing of the decision, coming just after the recent hostage release.

---

Key Takeaways

• Israeli gymnasts, including Artem Dolgopyat, barred from 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia.
• CAS rejects IGF appeal, citing FIG’s lack of authority over visas.
• IGF warns this sets a “dangerous precedent” for all sports disciplines.
• Indonesia’s decision is rooted in longstanding diplomatic and political stances.
• Global criticism grows amid Israel’s military actions in Gaza.