• Israel's gymnastics team denied visas to compete in the World Championships in Indonesia.
• The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Israel's appeals for participation.
• Indonesia's decision stems from political tensions and support for Palestinians.
• IGF General Secretary describes the situation as "shocking and heartbreaking" for athletes.
• The championships are scheduled to begin on October 19, featuring competitors from 79 countries.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has denied appeals from the Israel Gymnastics Federation, resulting in Israeli athletes being barred from competing in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. This ruling follows the decision by Indonesian authorities to refuse visas to Israeli gymnasts, citing a lack of diplomatic ties and ongoing conflicts concerning the situation in Gaza. The CAS's rejection of Israel's requests to mandate their participation or move the event highlights the complexities surrounding sports and international politics, especially under current tensions, according to TRT and South China Morning Post.

According to reports, the Indonesian government has faced significant backlash regarding its decision, reflecting widespread public sentiment against Israel within the country, which supports the Palestinian cause. An expected 500 athletes from 79 countries are set to participate in this event, which was initially anticipated to welcome Israeli competitors. The rejection of their visa applications has been noted as particularly unfortunate by the Israel Gymnastics Federation, which has expressed that this situation feels "shocking and heartbreaking" for their athletes, as stated by Al Jazeera and Reuters.

CAS dismissed Israel's second appeal, which sought to compel the International Gymnastics Federation (IGF) to ensure Israeli participation or to relocate the championships, asserting that they had no jurisdiction over visa matters or the decisions of the host country. This decision falls in line with Indonesia's well-established policy against hosting Israeli sports delegations due to their long-standing non-recognition of Israel, as further elaborated by The Jakarta Post and Channel News Asia.