Israeli youth windsurfers barred entry to Malaysia for world championships
(The Jerusalem Post) – Organizers demanded that the surfers would not compete under the Israel flag and wouldn’t be allowed to use any symbol identifiable with Israel on their clothes or surfboards.
Drihan will not have an opportunity to defend their titles at the Youth Sailing World Championships, which get underway in Langkawi, Malaysia on Sunday, after the Israel Sailing Association (ISA) announced on Wednesday that it will not be sending a delegation due to the demands made by the organizers and the fact the surfers have yet to receive visas.
The ISA notified the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the International Olympic Committee and the hosts on Wednesday that Israel will not be taking part as the organizers demanded that the surfers would not compete under the Israel flag and wouldn’t be allowed to use any symbol identifiable with Israel on their clothes or surfboards.
The hosts also said that should an Israeli win a gold medal the Israeli national anthem would not be played.
