The IOC's Hypocrisy and Double Standards

The world, particularly developed nations with close political ties to the United States, frequently exhibits double standards across various domains, including sports.

Anwar Abbas

WHEN the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out, the IOC imposed strict sanctions on Russia, citing its military invasion of Ukraine. 

Consequently, FIFA banned Russia from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and the IOC subsequently barred Russian athletes from the 2024 Olympics and various other international events. 

This stance by the IOC received full support from Western nations and allies of the United States as a show of solidarity with Ukraine.

However, what is deeply regrettable is the IOC's injustice in failing to take action against Israel or bar its athletes from global competitions. 

This is despite Israel's actions being far more devastating than Russia's, as Israel has not merely conducted a military invasion but has also occupied Palestine and committed ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Similarly, when the United States invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, this global sports organization remained silent and never penalized the US for its wrongdoings.

Now, when Indonesia bars Israeli athletes from competing in the World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, the IOC punishes the country by banning it from hosting any future events under the IOC's umbrella. 

This punishment comes despite Indonesia having just successfully and proficiently hosted the very same gymnastics championship.

Therefore, the IOC's actions are patently inconsistent. They claim that sports and politics should not be mixed, yet in reality, that is exactly what they are doing. 

In this instance, the IOC has revealed its hypocrisy by applying double standards—an act that is unequivocally not commendable.

By: Anwar Abbas, Social, Economic, and Religious Observer, Deputy Chairman of the MUI (Indonesian Ulama Council)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion piece are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial team.