In recent months, Israeli athletes and sports teams have faced significant challenges and discrimination amid escalating geopolitical tensions related to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza. These difficulties have manifested in various forms—from visa denials and event exclusions to sponsorship losses and fan restrictions—highlighting the complex intersection of sports, politics, and international relations.
One prominent example involves the Israeli national gymnastics team, whose athletes were barred from participating in the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia. Gymnasts Lihie Raz and Eyal Indig spoke publicly about their disappointment after the Indonesian government denied visas to the entire Israeli delegation, effectively preventing them from competing. The Indonesian authorities cited concerns over security and public safety as the official reasons for the visa denial. However, the Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) confirmed that the Israeli security team had already given clearance for the athletes to travel and compete under strict security protocols.
Eyal Indig, a member of the Israeli men’s gymnastics team, described the situation as deeply perplexing. He explained that Israel has employed extensive security measures for decades, especially following the tragic events of the 1972 Munich Olympics, when terrorists targeted Israeli athletes. Indig emphasized that Israel’s security team conducted thorough checks in Indonesia just a week prior to the scheduled competition and had assured the safety of the gymnasts. “You can believe me that they wouldn’t authorize anything that wasn’t safe,” he said. Indig subsequently condemned Indonesia’s decision as a clear act of discrimination based on nationality.
The Indonesian Embassy in the United States declined to comment further on the matter, while Indonesia’s Minister of Sport, Erick Thohir, defended the decision on the grounds of safeguarding security, public order, and the public interest during international events. Despite this official stance, the incident drew criticism from the Israeli sports community and highlighted the challenges faced by Israeli athletes competing on the global stage amid political tensions.
The gymnastics team’s exclusion is not an isolated case. The Israeli cycling team Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) has also faced mounting difficulties, including the recent loss of its top sponsor. Canadian company Premier Tech announced it would immediately end its partnership with the cycling team, citing an untenable sponsorship environment despite the team’s efforts to comply with the sponsor’s requests. Notably, IPT had agreed to remove the word “Israel” from its team name starting in the 2026 season, aiming to adopt a new identity and branding that distanced itself from the country’s name to avoid controversy. Nevertheless, Premier Tech stated that the core reasons for its sponsorship had been overshadowed by external circumstances, leading to the decision to withdraw support.
The sponsorship loss follows a series of disruptions linked to political protests. Earlier in the year, IPT was excluded from participating in the Giro dell’Emilia, a prestigious cycling race in Italy, after organizers feared potential disturbances from pro-Palestinian protests. These concerns were rooted in previous incidents during the Spanish Vuelta a España cycling tour, where the team had faced repeated disruptions from large-scale protests. During that event, seven of the last eleven days of racing were either shortened or interrupted due to ongoing demonstrations in Madrid, with authorities estimating that over 100,000 people had taken to the streets during the final stage in September. Protesters were voicing their opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The political tensions surrounding IPT and its sponsorship have exposed the broader difficulties Israeli sports teams encounter, as their national identity often becomes a focal point for political activism. The team’s experience exemplifies the challenges of navigating international sports competitions amid polarized geopolitical climates.
Further illustrating this trend, Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv also faced restrictions when their fans were banned from attending a recent match against Aston Villa in the United Kingdom. The ban was imposed due to concerns over fan safety, as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters had previously been targeted by violence during a match against Ajax in Amsterdam the year before. Despite the ban, unrest still erupted near the stadium during the Europa League match, where roughly 200 protesters gathered near Aston Villa Park. These demonstrators included members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, alongside smaller groups of pro-Israel supporters. British police reported that six individuals were arrested in connection with disturbances ahead of the game.
This incident further underscores the precarious environment in which Israeli sports teams and their fans operate. Safety concerns, protests, and political demonstrations have increasingly permeated sporting events