News
Malaysia banned from hosting Paralympic event
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said Malaysia can no longer host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships after the Government said it would ban Israeli athletes from competing in the event.
According to a statement issued by the IPC on Sunday, the decision was made at a meeting of its governing board in London, after Malaysia: “Failed to provide the necessary guarantees that Israeli para swimmers could participate, free from discrimination and safely in the championships”.
IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “All World Championships must be open to all eligible athletes and nations to compete safely and free from discrimination. 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.”
The IPC is now looking for an alternative venue for the competition, due to take place from 29 July to 4 August, which is a significant qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said: “This is a victory of values over hatred and bigotry, a strong statement in favour of freedom and equality.”
The British Paralympic Association tweeted: “We support the position of the IPC and are pleased that a decision has been made to change the location of the event to allow all eligible athletes to compete at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships.”
Malaysia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and entry to the majority-Muslim country on an Israeli passport is prohibited. The previous Government allowed a high-level Israeli delegation to attend a UN conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2018, sparking public anger. During a BBC interview in October, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad described Jews as ‘hook nosed’. He has also questioned whether six million Jews died in the Holocaust and said he is ‘glad to be labelled antisemitic’.
Malaysia’s New Straits Times quoted Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman as saying the Malaysian Government has no regrets about its original decision to ban Israeli athletes from the event.