Ice Hockey Australia slammed for cancelling 2025 event over inclusion of Israeli team
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said IHA made a "dreadful" and "dangerous" decision that sends the wrong message, and should be rescinded.
Ice Hockey Australia’s (IHA) recent decision to pull out of hosting a 2025 Ice Hockey World Championships men’s division 2 series in Melbourne in April that includes an Israeli team – citing “safety and security risks” – has been slammed by Australian Jewish leaders, Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon, and Victoria’s Police Minister Anthony Carbines.
Maimon wrote on X that IHA’s decision “sets a dangerous precedent, and undermines both athletes, and the integrity of sports”.
“By yielding to extremists and intimidation, you are proving that such tactics succeed.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said IHA made a “dreadful” and “dangerous” decision that sends the wrong message, and should be rescinded.
“They are playing directly into the hands of thugs and racists who have calculated that their violence and threats will lead to Israelis being abandoned.”
Australian Maccabiah Games lawn bowls rep player Phil Filler penned a letter “in disgust” to IHA president Ryan O’Handley on January 7, stating, “Standing up to bigots takes tough leadership”, and, “It has been obvious that the IHA have been bullied into making this decision”.
Filler emailed a copy to Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, federal Sport Minister Anika Wells, requesting their intervention, while Maccabi Australia made similar representations.
On January 9, Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines wrote to O’Handley, stating “In the absence of specific advice that there was a threat to your event, I believe your actions have caused unnecessary alarm in the Jewish community.”
Meanwhile, a fortnight earlier in another sport, the World Bowls Tour (WBT) reversed its decision to “uninvite” three Israeli players from its World Indoor Championships event that began on January 10 in England.
WBT revealed it had “found additional security measures” that could be implemented at the event, and made a written apology to Israel’s Professional Bowlers Association for its previous decision.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, and UK Lawyers for Israel, had written to WBT’s directors to stress that excluding Israeli players would breach UK anti-discrimination laws.
In addition, Maccabi NSW Lawn Bowls Guild president Jacques Hasson wrote to Bowls Australia president Iain Evans, asking that he join him in “expressing contempt” at WBT’s original decision.
“This is discrimination at its worst, and discrimination has no place within society, and least of all within sport,” Hasson wrote.
In contrast to all this, Israel’s professional rugby franchise – the Tel Aviv Heat – was warmly invited to, and competed in, the open men’s international club competition at the 2024 Dubai 7s tournament late last year.
Rugby Israel CEO Bonnie Manor-Gottfried said that was a significant achievement, and a powerful response to anti-Israel organisations that seek to promote boycotts.
“For us, stepping onto the field [at the Dubai 7s] and playing, was a victory,” he said.
“They [the hosts] were incredibly organised, accompanied us throughout, strengthened security, and made us feel safe and protected.”
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