Just days after Israel’s landmark peace deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza, gymnasts Lihie Raz and Eyar Indig found out that their hard work for the world championships was ultimately in vain.
They had, however, recently experienced a deeply joyful moment—the return of the last living hostage. Indig described the beginning of the week as one filled with happiness. “Seeing the live hostages come home allowed us to take a breath and feel relief knowing they were back with us,” he shared.
But soon after, they were hit with surprising news.
“It came out of nowhere,” said Raz, who represented Israel at the Paris Olympics.
The two gymnasts learned through a news piece that Indonesia was denying entry visas for the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships, set to take place in Jakarta. They were informed that the Indonesian government had concerns about security, stating it was a potential risk for them and other national delegations.
Indig mentioned that their security team had cleared them for entry after conducting a preliminary check. He pointed out the irony that Indonesian sports teams have been navigating security issues since the 1972 Munich Olympics, where a terrorist attack led to the deaths of several Israeli athletes. “It was puzzling,” Indig remarked. “Our security personnel had completed checks in Indonesia a week before our flight, giving us full clearance. If they weren’t confident in our safety, we would have known.” He characterized the decision as obvious discrimination based on nationality.
When asked if he thought the recent ceasefire with Hamas would lessen the exclusion of Israelis in international sports, Indig was cautiously hopeful. Yet he insisted, “This incident has nothing to do with the ceasefire; it’s pure discrimination.” Interestingly, he and Raz had successfully competed in other Muslim-majority countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey without issues.
The Indonesian Sports Minister, Eric Tohir, defended their stance, asserting the country’s commitment to security and public order for international events.
In response, the Israeli Gymnastics Federation has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), aiming to ensure Israel’s participation or to relocate the competition altogether.
Despite the uncertainty, Raz and Indig continued to train. “It was really tough,” Raz recalled. “I knew they might say I couldn’t compete, but I wanted to be ready just in case.” Their situation became more complicated when the flight was delayed due to the Jewish festival of Sukkot, but they kept practicing.
However, late on October 14, CAS rejected their appeal, effectively dashing their hopes of competing. “After that decision from CAS, we felt like there was nothing left to do,” Indig expressed.
The International Olympic Committee quickly condemned Indonesia’s actions and cautioned against hosting future major sporting events there. However, leaders from the gymnastics federation aligned more closely with Indonesia’s rationale, causing disappointment for the gymnasts. “For us, sports is separate from politics,” Raz said, and added they felt unsupported by the governing body.
Even so, Raz and Indig watched the competition that week, which intensified their frustration. “It was tough because we had wanted to be there and compete,” she noted.
Indig found enjoyment in cheering for Team USA’s Donnell Wittenberg, who made an impressive comeback. “A year and a half ago, I broke both elbows in an accident. So seeing Donnell succeed was really inspiring for me,” he said.
They believe their chances on the podium would have changed had they been allowed to compete. Raz was convinced that if renowned gymnast Artem Dolgopyat had joined them, the results would have looked different.
Despite everything, the pair decided to go on vacation after the championships, traveling through Africa to unwind. “It was mentally exhausting,” Raz admitted, but they felt the trip was crucial given the circumstances. Now, they are back to training, aiming for upcoming competitions, including the 2026 and 2027 World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
They’ve been reassured by their federation and the Israeli Olympic Committee about measures to ensure smooth participation in future events. “Our federation is doing all it can to prevent this from happening again,” Raz explained. Indig echoed her sentiment, emphasizing a collective vigilance in safeguarding their sports opportunities.
Indonesia’s recent sanctions highlight ongoing restrictions placed on Israeli teams. Other incidents include a cycling team being excluded from an upcoming race and talks of suspending Israel’s activities in the UEFA Europa League due to safety concerns.
