Israel’s unhealthy mix of sports and politics

In the State of Israel, where any athletic achievement elevates the mood sky-high and calls for parties in the streets (better with fountains) and any sports failure is almost always equated with military defeat, the connection of politics and sports seems completely natural. Politicians love to be seen alongside successful athletes and frequently use athletic success for patriotic-nationalist purposes. In this realm, Minister of Sports Miri Regev has accomplished a great deal this past year. 

In November 2017, we reported here at Al-Monitor on the refusal of Abu Dhabi, host of an international judo grand slam, to fly the Israeli flag among the flags of participating nations and to play the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, when the Israeli judoka Tal Flicker won the gold medal. Regev announced then that she would wage an international battle against such phenomena, and this pressure has indeed made a difference.