When an Israeli "Bomb" Exploded at a World Championship Press Conference

One day before the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championship, a press conference was held. The meeting between representatives of the International Gymnastics Federation, the local organizing committee, and the media began warmly. However, the situation suddenly turned tense and very serious. The cause was the "bomb" from Israel.

The President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe and the Secretary General of FIG Nicolas Buompane, along with the Chairperson of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation (FGI) Ita Yuliati, attended a press conference at the Indonesia Arena Stadium, Jakarta, on Saturday (18/10/2025). They aimed to convey the final preparations ahead of the event.

Like the famously friendly Japanese, Watanabe did not hesitate to smile. Then, he greeted in Indonesian. The first question from a local journalist made him even more enthusiastic. "Indonesian food is very delicious, but that's the problem, it's too delicious," he said when asked if he had tried soto yet.

While Watanabe had not yet finished answering the first question, the hand of a foreign journalist from the United States was already poised to ask. He was eager to pose his question. Once the question was delivered, the entire room was taken aback as if there had been a bomb explosion. The atmosphere suddenly turned "dark," and the faces of the speakers became tense.

The topic of the cancellation of Israeli athletes' visas, which seemed to be the "elephant in the room," has finally been discussed. For the first time, the President and Secretary General of FIG were asked for their direct opinions regarding the evaluation following the uproar last week. The Israeli representative was unable to participate in the World Championship due to being rejected by the Indonesian government.

"I have already conveyed in the IOC (International Olympic Committee) statement that sports must be separated from politics. All athletes have the same rights as sportspeople. The IOC and FIG must protect that right. We deeply regret that we cannot protect the rights of athletes from one country, but the global situation is changing," said Watanabe.

Watanabe emphasized that the political pathways of each country, especially the host country, must also be respected. In Indonesia, the cancellation occurred following widespread rejection from various community groups regarding the planned arrival of representatives from Israel. This included political parties, the Indonesian Ulema Council, and the Governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung, who also expressed their opposition.

Watanabe's response was deemed unsatisfactory. A barrage of questions followed from other foreign journalists, this time from Germany. "Are you aware that what is happening violates Article 27.4 of the FIG Statute? If so, what are the consequences for the Indonesian federation?" he asked.

Article 27.4 discusses guarantees related to visas. In the 2025 edition of the statute, the same discussion is included in Article 26.4, which states, "Entry visas must be granted to gymnasts/athletes and officials from all Member Federations. If this requirement is not met, the event allocation will be immediately canceled by the Executive Committee."

Watanabe's limited English proficiency made the discussion less smooth. Buompane, who was sitting next to him, took over. The Swiss man stated that the Indonesian government had confirmed that all participants would be granted visas. This was part of the host bidding process. "All athletes had received visas by October 9 before tensions escalated," said Buompane.

FIG is not unaware of its own regulations. However, Buompane stated that they must consider the complete context. This includes other articles related to force majeure and the impossibility of relocating the event. For example, in 2022, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited the event from being held in Russia following a doping scandal, yet the competition continued because it was too close to be moved.

"Regarding security, the Olympic Charter and the FIG Statutes contain articles ensuring non-discrimination and participation for all athletes. However, both also include clauses on force majeure and the safety of participants. These factors must be taken into account. We must ensure the safety of everyone. This precedent should serve as a lesson for all sports," Buompane explained passionately.

Ita remained silent throughout the discussion. She wasn't asked. Judging by her expression, the chairman also seemed uninterested in discussing the matter. Ita had already explained the federation's stance during a press conference regarding the visa revocation last Friday. At the previous event, doorsteps were not permitted.

Indeed, when intercepted outside this time, Ita responded swiftly, "Let's not talk about that." Ultimately, she was willing to explain a bit about FGI's very dilemmas. On one hand, they are under FIG, which upholds equal rights for athletes. However, they stand on Indonesian soil.

According to Ita, FIG should align itself with the government's decision. On the other hand, FGI and FIG prioritize the safety of the event's organization. "So if we insist on defending one country, what about the other 70 countries? This is the most appropriate decision," she said, expressing concern that the main focus of the World Championship would be disrupted by the presence of Israel.

Ultimately, the World Championship will be held in Indonesia for the first time after it was at risk of being canceled. Who would have thought that the social unrest, which initially posed a threat to the event's organization, turned out to act like a natural antibody. As a result, the potential for major problems has been eliminated before it was too late.