No Israeli flag in Qatar for Swimming World Cup finalists
Amit Ivri wins silver with national record-breaking performance; four other Israelis make finals
BY TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF October 22, 2013, 12:38 pm

The organizers of the Swimming World Cup in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday failed to show the Israeli flag in their computer graphics displaying the races, substituting a white flag in its place, and failed to display the country name “Israel” — instead using “IRS” — in several of the cup’s races.

Some races in which Israelis featured were also not broadcast by the Qatar authorities, according to some reports.

Amit Ivri, who won silver in the women’s 100-meter individual medley and broke the Israeli record in the process, said Tuesday that the experience was highly unpleasant, but she also stressed that the Israeli flag was raised when she stood on the podium to receive her silver medal.

“I’d much rather not talk about politics,” she told Army Radio.


Qatar's footage of the end of the 100-meter individual medley, in which Israel's Amit Ivri won the silver medal. Instead of the Israeli flag, a white flag is displayed. (screen capture: YouTube)

She said that prior races, held in Dubai, took place in a warmer atmosphere for the Israelis. But Gal Nevo, who finished fifth in the men’s 200-meter individual medley in Qatar, said Israel was airbrushed out of the graphics in the early stages of the Dubai event too, although there was later “an improvement.”

Yesh Atid MK Yoel Rozbozov called the treatment of the Israeli delegation “shameful to all participants,” and vowed to file an official complaint with the International Olympic Committee and the International Swimming Federation.

Qatar removes Israeli flag after online backlash
By Erika Widén
Tuesday, 22 October 2013 4:26 PM

An Israeli flag flying outside a Doha sports complex during the staging of an international swimming event was removed after complaints from some residents in Qatar, it was reported.
The Israeli flag had been flying outside Doha’s Hamad Aquatic Center when the two-day FINA Swimming World Cup 2013 began on Sunday, Doha News reported.
Following a backlash on social media, security guards removed the flag on Monday, the report confirmed.
Israel was one of 32 countries competing in the swimming event and the inclusion of its four swimmers led the Qatar Youth Opposed to Normalization (QAYON) to post a letter to the Qatar Swimming Association urging a boycott of Israel competitors.
“It was brought to our attention that QSA is currently hosting the two-day FINA World Cup series leg... We were distressed to see Qatari residents report seeing the Israeli flag marking the presence of Israeli swimmers on social media... We, Qatar Youth Opposed to Normalization, made up of Qatari citizen and residents, are strongly opposed to this visit,” the QAYON said in its letter of objection.

Qataris shocked to see Israeli flag flying high in Qatar
on Oct 21, 2013

An Israeli flag was spotted along with flags of other countries on Sunday, 20 October outside the Hamad Aquatic Center (Aspire) in Qatar, the venue for the FINA (International Swimming Federation) Swimming World Cup.

The picture of the Israeli flag that went viral on Twitter was first tweeted by Sara AlDisi.



According to Qatar Living, she said that Qataris and others were shocked to see the picture. The fact that the flag was put up so boldly within and outside the aquatic center has shocked some people. Apparently, it has never happened before even though Israelis have come to Qatar before.

According to Sara, Israeli participation was not publicized. “Qatar Olympic Committee made sure to never mention Israeli when listing countries in news,” reported in Qatar Living, an online community website in Qatar.

The swimming world cup was held on 20 and 21 October in Qatar. The FINA website has uploaded a country-wise list of participants on its website. Here is a screenshot of the list.



In a picture taken on Monday, 21 October 2013, the Israeli flag was missing, most likely because authorities took it down.

I can understand the animosity towards Israel and why the arab countries refuse to acknowledge them.

Having said that, i think that we as Muslims need to be showing the character that our religion teaches us and letting that animosity not rear its ugly head especially at world sporting events.

Depends what makes a "legitimate" country.

-PB

I can understand the animosity towards Israel and why the arab countries refuse to acknowledge them.

Having said that, i think that we as Muslims need to be showing the character that our religion teaches us and letting that animosity not rear its ugly head especially at world sporting events.

I can understand the animosity towards Israel and why the arab countries refuse to acknowledge them.

Having said that, i think that we as Muslims need to be showing the character that our religion teaches us and letting that animosity not rear its ugly head especially at world sporting events.

I can understand the animosity towards Israel and why the arab countries refuse to acknowledge them.

can you go further and explain why?????

Having said that, i think that we as Muslims need to be showing the character that our religion teaches us and letting that animosity not rear its ugly head especially at world sporting events.

Agree with both comments in this.

Ridiculous how precious they are. Really really want Israel to make it to the World Cup and then knock Qatar out.

I can understand the animosity towards Israel and why the arab countries refuse to acknowledge them.

Having said that, i think that we as Muslims need to be showing the character that our religion teaches us and letting that animosity not rear its ugly head especially at world sporting events.

i can only imagine the outrage that would be unleashed if the shoe was on the other foot........hypocrites

Agree with both comments in this.

Ridiculous how precious they are. Really really want Israel to make it to the World Cup and then knock Qatar out.

There is absolutely no reason for any animosity toward Israel, there is nothing to understand except that it is totally unjustified persecution of Israel. Israel are totally mistreated by the Arab nations.

So much for the reputation of being good hosts to guests, eh?

can you go further and explain why?????[/b][/color]

Did they get a South Asian slave to remove the flag from that pole? Seems like it would take a lot of effort.

There is absolutely no reason for any animosity toward Israel, there is nothing to understand except that it is totally unjustified persecution of Israel. Israel are totally mistreated by the Arab nations.

Blue text, surely.

Mate I'm definitely on the anti-Israel side :lol:

Pro-Israel, Anti-Israel, whatever your stance we can all agree that there's no place for this in sport. The athletes are there to give their all for their country just like everybody else.

Can't we all just get along?

What country?
Hard to say they have athletes when Qatar don't recognise them as a country :-k

The question I have is how did the Israelis get into Qatar with passports from a country that doesn't exist?!

If you can be from Gibraltar, Basque or Catalunya and represent your 'country' then why can't Israel?

I'm not going to get into the whole debate as to whether they 'deserve' to be a country or not because every man and his dog has a strong opinion on that but what I will say is that the actions of Qatar to defy the conventional acceptance of the international community is belligerent and immature. It's the international equivalent of a school child going "Lalala I can't see you, I can't hear you, lalala" because the person on the desk opposite them's books keep slipping onto their desk.

Pro-Israel, Anti-Israel, whatever your stance we can all agree that there's no place for this in sport. The athletes are there to give their all for their country just like everybody else.

Can't we all just get along?