Israeli athletes removed from race amid 'safety concerns'

A number of Israeli triathletes set to compete in Londonderry have been withdrawn from the race after organisers raised concerns about their participation.

The sport's governing body, World Triathlon, confirmed on Thursday it had been asked by the Israeli National Federation to "remove all the Israeli athletes entered" from Saturday's Europe Triathlon Cup.

The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), who are organising the race, earlier said they could not support the Israeli athletes taking part.

The club added that it had concerns about "athlete and public safety" had the Israeli athletes competed on Saturday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told BBC News NI it had "become aware of potential protest activity in relation to the event".

Four Israeli triathletes had been listed on a provisional entry list for the men's elite race in Derry.

World Triathlon said it had removed the Israeli competitors with "immediate effect" following the request from the Israeli federation.

Earlier the NWTC said it had raised a number of concerns with both Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon after it said it had become aware of the Israeli athletes participation.

It said it had "made clear in the strongest possible terms that it could not support their (the Israel athletes) participation in the circumstances."

That position, NWTC said, is based on its club values, the values of its members and "on the very real concerns being raised around athlete and public safety, the potential for serious disruption and the wider risk to an event involving hundreds of competitors from Ireland and across the world."

"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.

The race organisers added: "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."

"NWTC believed it had a responsibility to speak clearly and urgently when the safety of athletes, spectators, volunteers and the wider public - and potentially the ability of the event itself to proceed - could be placed at risk."

NWTC said international registration for the event has been handled by World Triathlon and as such it had "no involvement whatsoever in accepting or approving these international entries."

In a statement, Triathlon Ireland confirmed the start list for Saturday's race "does not include any athletes representing Israel."

"The selection and confirmation of athletes for Europe Triathlon Cup competition is managed by Europe Triathlon, under World Triathlon rules. It is not possible to comment on the circumstances or decisions relating to individual athletes," it said.

Triathlon Ireland added: "Preparations for Saturday's event are continuing as planned."

In a statement on social media, the Derry Anti War Coalition said it is "delighted that the triathletes from Israel will no longer be participating in the City of Derry Triathlon."

Staging an elite triathlon in the city is widely regarded as a coup for race organisers with many of the world's best triathletes set to take part.

Earlier this year, Ireland's most successful triathlete Aileen Reid said the Derry event – taking place three weeks before the World Triathlon Championship Finals in the Spanish city of Pontevedra - is well timed to attract a high-end field of competitors.

Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) said the event was not organised by it, but that Triathlon Ireland had secured funding through the National Event Fund to deliver it.

A spokesperson said: "We were made aware on Wednesday evening of concerns regarding a small number of entrants taking part, and are aware of the subsequent statement from the North West Triathlon Club issued today.

"We would like to take this opportunity to highlight Council's ongoing support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement which is promoted on our platforms regularly in line with the wider global campaign of solidarity with the Palestinian people."