Malaysia stripped of World Para Swimming, over Israeli discrimination

The Championships is scheduled in Kuching from 29 July to 4 August and allocates places for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Kuala Lumpur had banned Israeli athletes over Israel's treatment of Palestinians. A decision reached concurrently with International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The International Committee of Paralympic Games (ICP) yesterday pulled  the organization of the world championships from Malaysia, scheduled between July 29 and August 4 in Kuching.

The decision was fueled by Malaysia’s refusal to welcome and guarantee the participation of Israeli athletes. The world championship will also be an opportunity to acquire the right to compete for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

In a statement, the leaders of the ICP claim that the decision was taken "after the Malaysian Interior Ministry failed to provide the necessary guarantees for the participation of the Israeli Paralympic athletes". A presence, adds the Committee, which should be "free from any discrimination and safe" for the duration of the event.

IPC President Andrew Parsons emphasizes that “when a host country excludes athletes from a particular nation, for political reasons, then we have absolutely no alternative but to look for a new championships host". "All the World Championships – he added - must be open to all athletes and nations eligible to compete safely and without discrimination".

Malaysia, a nation with a large Muslim majority, has decided to ban Israeli athletes due to - in the words of Kuala Lumpur - the bad treatment of the Palestinians. The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the decision and accused the Asian nation of anti-Semitism.

In Israel, where yesterday as well as around the world was celebrated the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the announcement was received with great satisfaction. "These are words that come to defend freedom and equality", says the spokesman for the dicastery Emmanuel Nachshon. The Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev added that the choice of the IPC is "the result of a diplomatic engagement promoted by Israel both in public and behind the scenes".

The Committee is now looking for a new venue for the event, which should take place on the scheduled dates. "This is an important signal - concludes the Italian Paralympic Federal President Luca Pancalli - which falls on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance. It is our duty to never lower our guard in the face of all forms of discrimination and intolerance ".

• malaysia
• israel
• paralympics
• sports
• memory day
• muslims
• jews
• islam
• fundamentalism