Jakarta 2025: Geopolitics in the Gymnastics Arena
“Jakarta 2025″ wasn’t an obvious choice : It was a tough battle for the FIG to pin down a candidate for the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships: typically, the post-Olympic edition, which skips the team finals, seems to draw less buzz. Yet, history has taught us that this is where fresh talent can explode onto the scene, delivering gripping finals. With Rotterdam and Chengdu already snagging 2026 and 2027 respectively, 2025 was left hanging in suspense, leaving everyone to speculate which city would ultimately snatch the not so coveted hosting rights. In a surprising twist, just 16 months ahead of the event, the FIG finally announced “Jakarta 2025”.
Jakarta 2025
Indonesia is hosting a major Artistic Gymnastics competition for the first time. The FIG has regularly communicated about how the local federation is getting ready for it. Yet, while other World Championships generally initiate ticket sales one year in advance, tickets for the Jakarta event were made available in September 2025, just six weeks before the event’s start. This situation appears reminiscent of the 2018 Doha competition, which was marked by noticeably empty stands throughout the event.
Jakarta 2025: Israel banned from competition
The Indonesian government has made the decision to suspend the issuance of visas to Israeli athletes and members of their delegation. A cabinet minister announced on Thursday that entry would be prohibited, citing the country’s support for Palestinians. “The government will not grant visas to Israeli gymnasts intending to participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta” stated senior Indonesian law minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra on October 10.
The Israeli federation was assured in July by Indonesian officials and the FIG that it would be welcome at the Jakarta 2025 World Championships.
The Indonesian Gymnastics Federation had previously submitted a sponsorship letter for six Israeli athletes to obtain visas, but then withdrew it.
That would have contradicted Indonesia’s long standing stance of declining to host Israeli teams at major sports events:
– 2023 FIFA U-2O World Cup: Indonesia lost its hosting rights after refusing to host Israeli’s matches
– 2023 World Beach Games: Bali’s Governor declared Israeli athletes not welcome, jeopardizing the event.
– 2015 World Badminton Championships: Israeli player Misha Zilberman was denied a visa.
Indonesia officials stated the decision was in line with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s speech at the UN General Assembly, which strongly condemned Israel for its continued attacks on the Gaza Strip.
In the past week, political leaders and moderate Islamic organizations in Indonesia have intensified demands for the exclusion of Israel’s delegation from the 2025 Jakarta World Championships. Their appeals have been echoed by a surge of anger on social media, where thousands of users denounced the participation of athletes “from a nation they accuse of committing genocide in Gaza”.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung described the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza as “unbearable,” warning that the presence of Israeli athletes would inflict profound emotional distress on many Indonesians.
“In the current circumstances, their arrival would inevitably provoke public outrage,” he told reporters on October 8.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the country’s highest Islamic authority, has likewise called on citizens supportive of Palestinian statehood to demand Israel’s exclusion.
“By rejecting the participation of Israeli athletes, we are reaffirming our conviction that all forms of colonialism must be eradicated, as they stand in opposition to humanity and justice,” said Amirsyah Tambunan, the council’s secretary-general.
Indonesia officially recognizes only six faiths – Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism – under its constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. Those who question or criticize any of these recognized religions risk prosecution under the country’s blasphemy laws, which carry a sentence of up to five years in prison. Offenses committed online can result in an additional six-year term.
Atheism is not legally recognized in Indonesia, where the criminal code includes provisions against blasphemy. The law penalizes individuals who are deemed to have “distorted” or “misrepresented” any of the officially sanctioned religions.
In its reaction to Indonesia’s move, the FIG said that they were taking note.
The Israeli Gymnastics Federation officially communicated the submission of an urgent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking an injunction that would allow Israeli athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat, to participate in the forthcoming event. “We are committed to contesting this decision through all available avenues,” stated the organization.
The IGF submitted two appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) seeking urgent provisional measures:
1. The first appeal is directed against the FIG, requesting the annulment of the FIG statement “acknowledging”taking note” of the Indonesia’s decision to refrain from issuing visas to the Israeli delegation.
2. The second appeal, submitted jointly with the six Israeli gymnasts who qualified for the Jakarta 2025 World Championships, is also against the FIG and requests that CAS compel the FIG to implement the necessary measures to ensure the participation of the Israeli gymnasts or, alternatively, to relocate or cancel the Championships.
The Israeli federation contended that the FIG Statutes mandate the FIG Executive Committee to render a decision when entry visas are not granted to all participating delegations. Furthermore, they asserted that the FIG’s failure to reach a decision constitutes a denial of justice, thereby engendering a situation of discrimination against a member association.
Meanwhile, the FIG asserted that it possesses no authority regarding the issuance of entry visas in Indonesia, emphasizing that the refusal of Indonesian authorities to grant visas to Israeli individuals lies entirely beyond the jurisdiction of the FIG.
On October 14, the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied the appeals submitted by the Israel Gymnastics Federation seeking permission to participate in the upcoming world championships in Indonesia. Additionally, the CAS rejected Israel’s request to compel the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to ensure Israel’s inclusion, or alternatively, to either cancel or relocate the artistic world championships, which are scheduled to commence on October 18.
The Deputy President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division rejected both appeals. The first appeal will be terminated due to lack of jurisdiction, while the second appeal is still ongoing.
The ban of Israeli gymnasts represents an unprecedented occurrence in the realm of gymnastics. Typically, such bans are imposed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) or its continental affiliates, as was the case for athletes from the Russian Federation following the onset of the war in Ukraine and the violation of the Olympic truce in 2022.
Israeli gymnasts have been withdrawn from the Jakarta 2025 official registration list, which is routinely updated by the FIG prior to the commencement of the competition.
In the initial stages of the competition, a press conference was convened by the organizers of the World Championships, during which officials articulated the rationale behind the suspension of visas granted to the Israeli delegation. Indonesian authorities determined that it would be prudent for the Israelis not to travel to Indonesia, in light of the (lack of) existing diplomatic relations between the two nations and the prevailing sentiments within the populace regarding the Jewish State.
They expressed their lack of absolute certainty in ensuring the safety of the Israeli delegation and deemed the associated risks excessively high. Consequently, in response to significant public outcry, the Indonesian authorities opted to suspend the visas and prohibit the participation of Israeli athletes in the competition.
Politics on the Podium: Where Ideals Collide
The exclusion of Israeli gymnasts from the upcoming World Championships presents a complex challenge. The passionate advocacy for Palestinian rights and the situation in Gaza is justifiable, yet the unilateral decision to ban athletes based on their nationality sets a precedent. Regardless of the political situation in Israel, this action raises concerns about the potential for other nations to similarly exclude competitors for ideological or political reasons, opening the door to a fragmented and politicized sporting landscape, against the principles of fair play and international cooperation that are fundamental to the spirit of the World Championships and the broader Olympic movement.
JAKARTA 2025
Russians are back (… and neutral)
Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from competing in competitions organized by the European federation of Gymnastics and the FIG in March 2022. They missed all the competitions that followed, including two World Championships (Liverpool 2022 and Antwerp 2023) and one Olympic Games (Paris 2024).
In early January, there were some talks to negotiate the return of Russian and Belarusian gymnasts but the conditions included criteria which were difficult to be fulfilled:
Individual neutral status: Athletes must compete as individuals, not representing the Russian Federation, their National Federation, or National Olympic Committee.
No military or security ties: Athletes cannot be affiliated with or contracted by the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies.
No national symbols: Displaying national flags, anthems, emblems, or any other national symbols is forbidden.
No support for the war: Participants must not have supported the war in Ukraine and must refrain from any communication that supports it.
No affiliation with national federations: The return is conditional on athletes not being associated with their national federation or Olympic committee.
Initial Russian response and later developments
The Russian Gymnastics Federation initially rejected the conditions, as Sportstar reported, and European Gymnastics voted against the return. By June 2025, the federation changed its stance and announced that Russian athletes and judges would start participating in international events as neutrals. Despite the agreement, the number of athletes who successfully applied was significantly lower than the initial ~100 applications submitted in February 2025.
Yet, Belarusian gymnasts, including European Championships medalist Yahor Sharamkou, commenced their participation in World Cups in 2025, while World and Olympic Champion Angelina Melnikova competed at the Paris Cup in September 2025.
At the Jakarta 2025 World Championships, 14 “AIN” gymnasts are listed in the updated list of participants published by the FIG on 11 October. The process was long and in late September, all their names had not been confirmed yet.
Four 4 Belarusian gymnasts:
Aleh Tsitavets (MAG)
Yahor Sharamkou (MAG)
Ulyana Kuzmenkova (WAG)
Alena Tsitavets (WAG)
10 Russian gymnasts:
Daniel Marinov (MAG)Aleksandr Kartsev (MAG)
Mukhammadzhon Iakubov (MAG)
Vladislav Polyashov (MAG)
Ilia Zaika (MAG)
Aleksei Usachev (MAG)
Angelina Melnikova (WAG)
Liudmila Roshchina (WAG)
Anna Kalmykova (WAG)
Leila Vasileva (WAG)
beyond the competition: Russia’s Re-entry
In stark contrast to the situation involving Israel, the Championships will also mark the return of Russian gymnasts (as neutral athletes) after a ban exceeding three years. Their participation, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, will undoubtedly be a significant storyline. The Ukrainian team, citing the presence of Russian athletes, opted out of the Paris Cup in September, highlighting the sensitive nature of this reintegration. The competition will, therefore, be the first time in over three years that these two nations will compete against one another, creating a highly charged environment and raising questions about the role of sport in the context of international conflict.
AAA
More:
Jakarta 2025: Guide to the World Championships
FIG’s Jakarta 2025 World Championships
Leave a Reply