Israel yet to confirm participation in European Championships
Israel’s participation in next month’s European Championships has yet to be confirmed in the wake of the pro-Palestine demonstrations that took place during the Vuelta a España.
The European Championships take place in the Drôme-Ardêche from October 1-5. As a member of the European Cycling Union (UEC), the Israel Cycling Federation was expected to send a team to France, but it is not yet clear if it will do so.
“We have not yet received confirmation of his participation, although there was an intention to come since a hotel has been booked,” French Cycling Federation president Michel Callot told L’Équipe. “Teams have until 8pm on Monday, September 22 to confirm their participation with the UEC.”
The Israel-Premier Tech team – privately owned by Canadian-Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams – was the subject of repeated protests at the Vuelta due to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza. The human rights demonstrations led to the repeated interruptions to the race, including the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta after an estimated 100,000 demonstrators gathered in Madrid.
In the aftermath of the Vuelta, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez called for Israel to be barred from international sport. “I think that sports organisations need to ask themselves whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep taking part in international competitions,” he said.
The UCI later issued a statement critical of the Spanish government and the governing body indicated that Israeli teams would continue to compete in international cycling.
Callot explained that the French Cycling Federation had been liaising with the UEC and the UCI regarding Israel’s participation, as well as considering the additional security measures that would be required if they do compete.
“If participation is confirmed, we will need to see which riders are entered and in which categories,” Callot said. “We are, of course, discussing with the prefecture and the gendarmerie and police authorities to ensure we have the best security arrangements in place, even before considering the Israeli issue, even if these arrangements are not free and have an impact on the budget. In the meantime, we are proceeding step by step, awaiting the response from the Israeli Federation.”
