News | Athletics
15 Nov 2025 10:10
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Sports > Athletics

    IOC says sports events should not be hosted in Indonesia after Israeli gymnasts banned

    The world's most populous Muslim nation refused to issue visas to Israeli athletes last week because of the war in Gaza.

    23 October 2025

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged international sports federations to not host events in Indonesia after the country banned Israeli gymnasts from a competition there.

    The athletes had planned to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships taking place in Jakarta this week.

    But Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, said last week it would not grant visas to the team because of the Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

    The IOC condemned the decision and on Wednesday said it was cutting off discussions about any potential Olympic Games bids by Indonesia.

    Jakarta has expressed an interest in hosting the 2036 summer Olympics.

    The IOC said it would not reverse its stance until the Indonesian government provided assurances that all athletes, irrespective of nationality, would be eligible to compete there.

    Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel and has previously barred Israeli athletes from competing on its soil, citing long-held political and diplomatic reasons.

    But the Israel Gymnastics Federation had said it believed its athletes would be able to compete.

    After the gymnasts were banned they tried to launch an emergency case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the event to be cancelled or moved, or for Israeli participation to be guaranteed.

    The case was rejected.

    This is not the first time in recent years that Indonesia has been penalised for restricting Israeli athletes from participation.

    In March 2023 Indonesia was stripped of its right to host the Under-20 football World Cup after Bali's provincial mayor refused to host the Israeli team.

    Israel launched its military operation later that year  in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 captured and taken to Gaza.

    Since then more than 67,000 people in Gaza have been killed by Israel's military, according to the territory's health officials.

    The same numbers are used by the UN and humanitarian aid bodies. Experts say the death toll is likely even higher.

    Last month, a UN commission of inquiry formally declared that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

    Israel has rejected that finding.

    Reuters/ABC


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC, NZCity


     Other Athletics News
     10 Nov: New report calls on Queensland government to convert Brisbane 2032 athletes' village into social housing
     05 Nov: Leicester Fainga'anuku believes the switch to test rugby in the midfield isn't too daunting
     31 Oct: Multi-sport athlete Braden Currie has retired from ironman racing
     21 Oct: High jumper Hamish Kerr has been named as one of five finalists for World Athletics' field athlete of the year
     11 Oct: World champion and X Games gold medal-winning freeskier Luca Harrington has been named Snow Sports New Zealand's athlete of the year for 2025
     06 Oct: New Zealand's finished with seven medals - three gold, two silver and two bronze - at the para athletics world championships in New Delhi
     04 Oct: Danielle Aitchison has claimed women's T36 200 metres gold at the World Para Athletics Champs for a third straight year
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The All Blacks are bracing for the threat posed by England in tomorrow morning's third grand slam test at Twickenham More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The cost of food appears to show no signs of easing More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    The cost of food appears to show no signs of easing 10:06

    International:
    Hair loss drug finasteride causing psychological side effects in some men 10:06

    Technology:
    Jeffrey Epstein emails show he kept tabs on Donald Trump for years 10:06

    Entertainment:
    Pierce Brosnan has reconciled with his estranged son 9:42

    Golf:
    Golfer Daniel Hillier remains in the mix for a PGA Tour card next season with two rounds left in the European Tour season 9:26

    Accident and Emergency:
    One person has died after a four-wheel drive rolled on Tokerau Beach in the Far North last night 9:16

    Entertainment:
    Liam Hemsworth "took ownership of the role" on his first day on The Witcher 9:12

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian failed the bar exam 8:42

    International:
    A Russian drone has hit a block of flats in Kyiv killing six people during a mass wave of strikes across the Ukrainian capital 8:16

    Entertainment:
    Georgia Tennant has contacted the police after receiving more death threats 8:12


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd