No flag or anthem for israeli judo winners

[URL=“http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/sport/judo-abu-dhabi-grand-slam-tal-flicker-israel-national-anthem-flag/index.html”]http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/sport/judo-abu-dhabi-grand-slam-tal-flicker-israel-national-anthem-flag/index.html

Israeli judo star Tal Flicker wins gold in UAE; officials refuse to play anthem

By Henry Young, CNN

October 27, 2017

Israeli judo star Tal Flicker wins gold at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
 Tournament organizers refuse to raise Israel's flag or play national anthem
 Flicker sings Hatikvah anyway, telling CNN "it was weird"

(CNN)Winning a gold medal is usually a cause for unmitigated celebration.
But not for Israel judo star Tal Flicker as he stood atop the podium at this week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, having triumphed in the men’s half-lightweight division.

Instead of Hatikvah, Israel’s traditional national anthem, tournament organizers played the official music of the International Judo Federation (IJF).
Instead of the flag of Israel, the IJF’s logo was raised.
“It was weird,” Flicker told CNN Sport from the IPIC Arena. "Israel is my country and I’m proud to be from Israel.
“I sang Hatikvah because I don’t know anything else. This is my anthem.”
‘The world knows where we’re from’
Flicker had feared this might happen, given the UAE has no diplomatic ties with Israel and like most other Arab countries doesn’t recognize it as a state.
"There’s nothing sweeter than the moment of victory, the 25-year-old posted on his Facebook page ahead of the tournament. "That feeling that you did it for yourself, the family, team, and of course for the country.
“With or without the flag, I will face the difficulties and any rival in front of me. We’ll do anything to get to Abu Dhabi and end up on the podium.
“Everyone in this world knows where we’re from and which country we represent. I am the proudest in the world to be Israeli.”
He and his 11 compatriots competing at the elite international event were already forced to wear judogis (judo uniforms) without the typical identifying symbols of their nationality.
Earlier that day, fellow Israeli Gili Cohen – bronze medalist in the women’s half-lightweight division – had also stood by solemnly as the IJF’s flag was raised.
“No Israeli anthem or flag. A disgrace to the spirit of sports,” posted the Embassy of Israel in the US. " A disgrace to the spirit of sports.”
“It’s an outrage,” tweeted Emmanuel Nahshon , Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman. “Blatant hypocrisy. Shameful.”
The UAE embassy in London and the UAE government did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
‘Absolutely equal’
The IJF, for its part, contacted the president of the UAE Judo Federation insisting “all delegations, including the Israeli delegation, shall be treated absolutely equally in all aspects, without any exception,” according to a letter obtained by the Associated Press.
Principle 4 of the Olympic Charter outlines that “the practice of sport is a human right,” adding “every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind.”
But this is not the first time sport and politics have met on the tatami (judo mat).
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Egypt’s Islam El Shehaby provoked outrage across the sporting community after refusing to shake hands with Israeli judoka, Or Sasson.
Egypt’s Islam El Shehaby, blue, declines to shake hands with Israel’s Or Sasson, white, after losing during the mens over 100-kg judo competition at the Rio Olympic Games on Friday, August 12.
Egypt’s Islam El Shehaby, blue, declines to shake hands with Israel’s Or Sasson, white, after losing during the men’s over 100-kg judo competition at the Rio Olympic Games on Friday, August 12.
Judo’s moral code, created by the sport’s founder Jigoro Kano, preaches a set of ethics encouraging friendship, courage and honor.
Yasuhiro Yamashita, considered by many to be the greatest judoka ever, told CNN Sport earlier this month: “Judo is a bridge that connects the world’s people, cultures and countries,” adding “in this fragile world, judo gives us hope to overcome the obstacles of political tension, animosity and discrimination.”
Having beaten Rashad Almashjari of the UAE in the first round of the middleweight division, a second male Israeli judoka, Tohar Butbul, beat Italian Olympic champion Fabio Basile for bronze later on Friday.
CNN has also contacted the IJF, the UAE Judo Federation and the Israel Judo Association. None were immediately available for comment.

[URL=“http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/sport/judo-abu-dhabi-grand-slam-tal-flicker-israel-national-anthem-flag/index.html”]

That is a load of bullshit. Complete disrespect.

Let’s see if Abu Dhabi gets another grand prix/slam ever again…

Hopefully, not ever

Sucks that they are allowed to discriminate so blatantly and no one cares.

I’m not really sure how this surprises anyone. You’re talking about a country that rules itself by religious law. They are openly bigoted pretty much all the fucking time.

Oh and they will still probably get to host official tournaments because they have a fuck ton of money. Let’s face it money will help to turn a blind eye.

[QUOTE=Bneterasedmynam;2963141]I’m not really sure how this surprises anyone. You’re talking about a country that rules itself by religious law. They are openly bigoted pretty much all the fucking time.

Oh and they will still probably get to host official tournaments because they have a fuck ton of money. Let’s face it money will help to turn a blind eye.[/QUOTE]

The IJF is all about the sports entertainment business aspect of Judo, so you may well be correct.

Yeah. Every time this happens I hope the IJF will smack them down, yet they never do. Money talks.

People lost their minds all over the world this weekend because (ex IDF combat instructor) Gal Gadot modeled a Lebanese designer’s dress. Israeli and other Middle Eastern celebrities often can’t be photographed together for fear or reprisals.

Hate runs deep, even the nobler aspects of judo can’t change that. I wouldn’t expect much from the “international” judo community as far as changing anything. Judo is a great thing that brings people together… but it’s never going to overcome this.

People get upset over this picture…doesn’t make sense and seems mad to me, but it’s where things are.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42647021