Australia has officially canceled an international ice hockey tournament scheduled for April in Melbourne, with local media reports attributing the decision to safety concerns surrounding the participation of the Israeli national team. The Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) announced the cancellation on January 7, shortly after consulting with local police and the venues involved, emphasizing that the safety of athletes, volunteers, and spectators was the primary concern (AP News).

Although the IHA did not directly mention Israel in its statements, various media outlets revealed an internal email suggesting that the federation could not proceed with the tournament due to rising tensions. Recent months have seen a notable surge in antisemitic attacks within Australia, prompting heightened scrutiny and heated discussions regarding the country's capacity to host events that could incite backlash.(Reuters)

In light of these developments, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked that the cancellation was "unfortunate," while reiterating the government's commitment to combat antisemitism. He acknowledged that the decision ultimately rested with Ice Hockey Australia, a body with which he is less familiar compared to more prominent sports in the country. "We should be opposed, and are, as a country to any form of racism, but particularly to antisemitism," Albanese stated during a media interview.

This tournament, categorized as a lower-tier men's world championship event, was expected to host teams from Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates. The IHA indicated its expectation that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) would seek another host country for the tournament, which runs from April 27 to May 3. This incident marks a troubling period for the sports community amid growing tensions globally, particularly following the outbreak of violence in October 2023 involving Hamas and Israel.

In December, Australia announced the formation of an antisemitism task force in response to surging incidents, including acts of vandalism and targeted attacks. Concerns have been raised by Jewish organizations about the effectiveness of the government's response to these increases in antisemitism and Islamophobia since the onset of recent conflicts.

As Australia grapples with these issues, Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, criticized the IHA's decision, asserting that it could inadvertently validate extremist views aimed at isolating Israel politically and socially (AP News).