Israeli Triathlon Association considering legal action over Derry race

Triathlon officials in Israel have said they are considering legal action over the withdrawal of four athletes from an event due to take place in Londonderry on Saturday.

World Triathlon confirmed on Thursday that it had been asked by the Israeli Triathlon Association (ITA) to "remove all the Israeli athletes entered" from the event and had done so "with immediate effect".

The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), which is organising the event, had raised possible safety concerns about the participation of the athletes.

On Friday, the ITA said it is "deeply disturbed by the circumstances" that led to the athletes not taking part.

"We will not allow this matter to end with the withdrawal of our athletes," the association said.

"The Israeli Triathlon Association intends to pursue all available avenues, including examining possible legal action, to ensure that such a situation is not repeated."

On Thursday, the NWTC said they could not support the Israeli athletes taking part.

The club added that it had concerns about "athlete and public safety" and "the potential for serious disruption" had they competed on Saturday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told BBC News NI it had "become aware of potential protest activity in relation to the event".

The Israeli association said it had "extremely serious concerns about discriminatory treatment and antisemitism" over the NWTC's stance.

"The public statement issued by NWTC, which openly states that the club objected to the participation of athletes representing Israel and welcomed the fact that no Israeli athletes would compete, raises extremely serious concerns about discriminatory treatment and antisemitism.

"Israeli athletes should never be placed in a position where their participation becomes unacceptable simply because of the country they represent," the ITA said, adding its athletes had travelled to Northern Ireland expecting to take part.

It called on Europe Triathlon to "respond firmly", adding it expects the body to examine the event's ranking status and "whether those responsible for its organisation should be permitted to host international competitions in the future".

"Sport must remain a place where athletes meet on the start line and compete under the same rules," the association said.

It added: "Once an organiser cannot or will not protect that principle, the very purpose and integrity of international sport are at stake."

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show on Friday, Ian Cullen from the NWTC said it the participation of the Israeli athletes in the race would be unsafe for them and potentially all those taking part.

He added that the decision involved the police, Triathlon Ireland, Europe Triathlon and the Israeli federation, and went "well above our local organising level".

On Thursday, the Derry Anti War Coalition said it was "delighted" the Israeli athletes were no longer participating, while Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Mark H Durkan said he was "relieved" by the withdrawal.

Derry City and Strabane District Council, which in 2016 adopted a corporate policy in support of the Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, said the event was not organised by it but that Triathlon Ireland had secured funding through the National Event Fund to deliver it.

It added it continued to support the BDS movement "in line with the wider global campaign of solidarity with the Palestinian people".

The Chief Rabbi of Ireland has questioned the specific nature of the security concerns and what advice had been provided to organisers.

Rabbi Yoni Wieder said he was concerned that increasingly Israeli athletes are being excluded from "various public, cultural, and sporting life because of the country that they came from".

He added that it is "particularly upsetting" because sport gives "people the chance to encounter each other as people".

The Europe Triathlon Cup is due to take place in Derry on Saturday.

Staging an elite triathlon in the city is widely regarded as a coup for race organisers with many of the world's best triathletes set to take part.

In a statement, Triathlon Ireland confirmed the start list for Saturday's race "does not include any athletes representing Israel."

"The selection and confirmation of athletes for Europe Triathlon Cup competition is managed by Europe Triathlon, under World Triathlon rules. It is not possible to comment on the circumstances or decisions relating to individual athletes," it said.

Triathlon Ireland added: "Preparations for Saturday's event are continuing as planned."

It is not the first time on the island of Ireland that difficulties have arisen around a sports event involving Israel since it began its war in Gaza in 2023.

In football, the Republic of Ireland is due to play Israel in Uefa's Nations League later this month.

But in May an open letter from Irish Sport For Palestine, signed by 39 people including former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and music stars Paul Weller and Bobby Gillespie, called on Ireland's football authorities to boycott the games.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has said it will fulfil the fixtures.

There has been controversy too around Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, with Ireland earlier this year boycotting the contest over the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU's) decision to allow Israel to participate.

The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Since then, more than 73,460 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.