According to the President of the Israeli Olympic Committee, 17 athletes were also killed in the Hamas terrorist attacks. Israeli athletes should no longer travel abroad for competitions for the time being.
Hamas’s latest attack on Israel also preoccupied the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Congress in Mumbai. 17 athletes died in the Hamas attacks, said Yael Arad, President of the National Olympic Committee of Israel, on Tuesday (October 17, 2023) on the sidelines of the IOC Congress.
The judoka, silver medalist at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, reported on the ARD microphone about the great concern for the Israeli athletes. All top athletes were accommodated at the Wingate National Competitive Sports Center in Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, Arad said. They would be safe there and could train.
Israeli athletes “not safe out in the world right now”
The country’s top sports official confirmed that they should no longer travel to competitions abroad until further notice: “It’s very hard for them, ten months before the Olympics it’s about points for participation. But at the moment Israelis are not safe out in the world.”
Arad did not want to give a forecast as to how long the travel restrictions should be maintained. Given the current danger situation, the top priority of Israeli sport is to ensure that the lives of athletes are protected when they travel abroad. “Sport may be the most important thing to us, but human lives are more important.“
Olympic qualification: “We got a lot of support from the associations”
Israel expects to be represented in Paris with a team of 90 athletes. However, almost half of them have not yet qualified for the games. If Israeli athletes are still unable to take part in elimination competitions due to the dangerous situation, Israel’s Olympic Committee would like to contact the sports associations of the respective disciplines and look together for solutions that would enable them to qualify for the Olympics, said Arad: “We receive a lot of support from the international associations. I am very confident.”
The official emphasized the role of sport, especially in light of the recent attacks “shocking and very painful for the whole country” are, says Arad. Israel’s top athletes continue to be an inspiration and bearers of hope.
people of Arabic origin in Israel “part of Israeli sport”
Arad also referred to the athletes of Arab origin, saying that they are part of Israeli sports and the Olympic community. Israel’s men’s soccer team, which has already qualified for the Olympics, already includes three players of Arab descent, said Arad. She announced that young Arabs should be given more support in Israeli sports. “My wish is that in ten years the Arab community will be represented in all major sports and become a strong force in Israel’s sports.”