Elham Asaad Buaras
Four Israeli triathletes were withdrawn from an international competition in Derry after the local organising club objected to their participation, citing safety concerns and opposition to Israel’s representation in international sport while Palestinians continue to suffer.
The athletes had appeared on the provisional entry list for the Europe Triathlon Cup, held in Derry, Northern Ireland, on September 5. They were removed from the final start list after the North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), which hosted the event, raised its concerns with Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon.
World Triathlon said Israel’s national federation subsequently asked it to “remove all the Israeli athletes entered” from the competition, with their removal taking “immediate effect”.
NWTC said it only became aware of the Israeli entries when World Triathlon published the provisional list. On September 3, it told Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon that it could not support their participation.
The club cited “athlete and public safety, the potential for serious disruption and the wider risk to an event involving hundreds of competitors”.
It also said its objection was to what it described as the normalisation of Israel’s presence on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer.
“This is not a position directed at anyone because of their religion or ethnicity, nor is it hostility towards an individual simply because they were born in Israel,” NWTC said.
“It is a position concerning representation of the State of Israel in international sport and the attempt to present normality on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer.”
Triathlon Ireland stressed that international entries were managed by Europe Triathlon under World Triathlon rules rather than by the local organising committee.
The withdrawal was welcomed by the Derry Anti War Coalition, which had campaigned against Israeli participation and cancelled a planned protest following the decision.
The coalition said it was “delighted that the triathletes from Israel will no longer be participating”, describing the campaign as a “huge victory for common sense and for the BDS movement”.
“Derry people spoke out in one unified voice and thankfully the organisers of the event have listened,” it said.
The controversy unfolded in a city where Derry City and Strabane District Council has longstanding support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The council adopted a corporate policy supporting BDS in 2016.
Following concerns over the Israeli entrants, a council spokesperson reaffirmed its “ongoing support for the BDS movement”, describing it as part of the “wider global campaign of solidarity with the Palestinian people”. The council also reaffirmed its support for peaceful protest.
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said he was “relieved” that the Israeli athletes would not compete, citing opposition in Derry to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the council’s BDS policy.
The decision drew criticism from Israeli representatives and local political and community figures.
The Israeli Embassy in London described the withdrawal as “deeply troubling”, arguing that sport should bring people together rather than become “a vehicle for discrimination and division”.
It said Israeli athletes should have “the same right to compete as athletes from every other nationality”.
DUP MLA Julie Middleton called the decision “an awful reflection” on Derry, saying an international sporting event should have showcased the city’s “hospitality and openness”.
Michael Black, deputy chairman of the Belfast Jewish Community, said he was “sad” and “disappointed” by the withdrawal and accused Ireland, including Derry, of developing “a reputation of being antisemitic”.
The Derry Anti War Coalition rejected the accusation, saying its campaign was directed at Israel’s representation in international sport rather than Jewish people.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had become aware through social media of “potential protest activity” linked to the event.
Europe Triathlon said it remained confident the race could proceed safely.
The Europe Triathlon Cup went ahead on September 5 at Ebrington Square and around the River Foyle, with athletes from more than 20 countries taking part. Triathlon Ireland subsequently described a full day of racing involving elite and junior competitors, alongside a sold-out age-group event.
