Israeli athletes denied entry to the Artistic Gymnastics Worlds in Jakarta

* According to reports by the international news agency AP, the host of the upcoming 53^rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Indonesia (Jakarta) does not want to allow Israeli athletes to participate. The decision to deny visas to the Israeli athletes comes after their planned participation had sparked intense opposition in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, which has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinians. Israel is among 86 countries registered to compete at the worlds that start in Jakarta on October 19, with a team highlighted by 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat in the men’s floor exercise. 
Now its participation is in doubt, even though the Israeli Gymnastics Federation said in July that it had been assured by Indonesian officials that it would be welcome at the worlds. That would have gone against Indonesia’s long-standing policy of refusing to host Israeli sports delegations for major events.
Indonesia’s senior minister of law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, made it clear the Israeli team will not be allowed into the country, despite Israel and Hamas

“The government will not grant visas to Israeli gymnasts who intend to attend the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta,” Mahendra said.
* Source Intern. media / AP