"Due to Palestinian suffering": Participation of Israelis in triathlon in Northern Ireland cancelled
The four were supposed to take part in the European Cup in Londonderry, but the local club announced it would not approve their participation and clarified: "This decision is not directed against any person due to their religion or ethnic origin - but against the representation of the State of Israel in international sports." A local MP: "A very sad picture for Londonderry."
Four Israeli athletes who were supposed to participate this weekend in the European Triathlon Cup in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, will ultimately not take part in the competition — this was announced last night, Thursday, by the organizing body, the North West Triathlon Club (NWTC).
In a statement published on social media, the club explained that they only learned about the possibility of Israeli athletes participating in the competition after the provisional list of participants for the race, which will take place tomorrow, Saturday, was published on the World Triathlon website.
"We immediately conveyed our firm opposition under these circumstances. To avoid any misunderstanding — there will be no Israeli representation competing in the event."
The NWTC emphasized that their position is not directed against "any person due to their religion or ethnic origin, but against the representation of the State of Israel in international sports and the attempt to present a picture of normality on the world sports stage, while Palestinians continue to suffer."
Julie Middleton, a Northern Ireland MP from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), expressed her disgust at the decision to exclude the Israeli athletes from the 200 who are supposed to take part in the event, and defined the decision as "a very sad picture for Londonderry. An international sports event, which is supposed to showcase the hospitality and openness of our city, is identified with the exclusion of athletes only because they are Israelis."
The Israelis were supposed to be met by several protest shifts, with a statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland saying that the authorities "became aware, through social media, of such a possibility." Other protests have already taken place against the upcoming Nations League matches between the national teams of Ireland and Israel, with the home game of the "Greens" (on October 4) taking place in Serbia behind closed doors, and even before that, the "Blue and Whites" will host the Northern Irish in Hungary (September 27).
