The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 called on all international sports federations to refrain from organizing events in Indonesia after the country refused to issue visas to Israeli athletes competing in the ongoing 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta.
In a statement following its Executive Board meeting, the IOC said it had “no alternative solution” to the visa refusal and decided to suspend all dialogue with the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia) regarding the hosting of future Olympic-related events, including the Youth Olympics, conferences, and qualification tournaments.
The decision came after the Indonesian government confirmed that its refusal to grant visas to the Israeli delegation was a political protest against Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza.
“The IOC reminds all stakeholders in the Olympic Movement of the importance of free and unobstructed access to host countries for all eligible participants in international competitions,” the committee said.
The visa denial prevented Israel’s gymnastics team from competing in the championship currently underway in Jakarta. Among those affected was Artem Dolgopyat, 28, the reigning floor exercise world champion, Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist, and Paris 2024 silver medalist.
The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) condemned Indonesia’s action as a “dangerous precedence” and criticized the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for failing to ensure fair participation. The IGF said it had previously received assurances that Israeli athletes would be allowed to compete.
The IGF filed an urgent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) requesting that Israel be allowed to participate, or that the event be relocated or canceled. The CAS, however, rejected the appeal.
Olympic bid in jeopardy
According to The Jerusalem Post, Indonesia’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games will be suspended pending government guarantees that athletes from all nations can participate without discrimination.
Indonesia, which has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel, has long supported Palestinian statehood. The current controversy is likely to strain Jakarta’s relations with the international sporting community.
The IOC has invited representatives from NOC Indonesia and FIG to its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss the situation further.
The decision marks a major setback for Indonesia’s ambition to elevate its international sporting profile after hosting several major events, including the 2018 Asian Games and the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup bid, which was also derailed over similar political objections.