Jakarta –
Athlete Israel, Sergey Richterrecounts the bitter experience of withdrawing from the international championship in Indonesia. He was forbidden to wear his country’s attributes.
Richter is an athlete shooting Israel won the gold medal at the 2019 European Championships. The man born in Ukraine qualified and participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In early 2023, Richter enters a shooting championship International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle & Pistol. This event was held in Jakarta from 27 January to 7 February.
ISSF World Cup Rifle & Pistol in Jakarta is one of the four World Cup shooting competitions. Athletes must compete in these events for tickets to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics.
Bad news hit Sergey Richter the day before leaving for Jakarta to take part in the championship. He received a message from the tournament organizer informing him that he could not appear in Indonesia with the symbols Israel.
Launch generalist, Richter was forbidden to display the Israeli flag on his official uniform. The 33-year-old athlete is also not allowed to use his rifle which has the letters ‘ISR’ engraved on it, a representation of Israel.
Organizers will only allow Richter to participate with either the ISSF symbol or the International Olympic Committee (IOC) flag. Richter rejected these demands and decided to withdraw from the championship ISSF World Cup Rifle & Pistol.
Richter resigned because he did not want to appear without showing the symbols and attributes of his country’s representation. He also criticized organizers for bringing political issues to sport.
As is known, Indonesia and Israel do not establish official diplomatic relations. Indonesia adopted a pro-Arab policy supporting Palestinian independence from Israel.
“I would never want to participate in a competition without the ISR on my uniform, my personal rifle and the score screen. I wonder why the Olympics agreed to limit symbols and state representations that represent athletes,” said Richter, quoted from generalist.
“If the Olympic movement, which advocates sports without distinction as to nationality, religion, race and gender, does not support that principle, then what is the value? I don’t understand how countries are allowed to organize such competitions with limitations on national identity,” he continued.
“If there is a competition in Israel and we boycott a country – oh my God – all the athletes will stand up and protest back,” he said. Sergey Richter.
Watch Video “Governor of Bali Rejects Israel National Team, PDI-P: That’s Right!“
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