KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — The conditions set for two Israeli sailors to participate in the 2015 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Youth World Sailing Championship (YWC) is a normal practice.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) assistant secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said the sailors have to adhere to the terms for the championship to be held in Langkawi from tomorrow to Jan 3.

“Generally, if there are participants from Israel, there are conditions set by the Malaysian government. Even in the past, we have told them of the conditions and they were not happy.

“There has been Israeli representatives in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session.

But the Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA) must look at the conditions set by the ISAF. I’m not so sure about the competition rules,” the former OCM Honourary Secretary told Bernama when contacted, today.  

ISAF is now known as World Sailing.

In 1997 the Israeli cricket team had competed in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy, while Israeli nationals, coach Avram Grant and Ben Haim were part of the Chelsea pre-tour squad in 2008 as well as player Yossi Benayoun who was in the team that came for a friendly with Harimau Malaya in 2011.  

The Israel Sailing Association (ISA) announced Wednesday that its two young windsurfers, Yoav Omer and Noy Drihan together with their coach Meir Yaniv would withdraw from the tournament, blaming Malaysia for ‘unacceptable’ demands. 

The Israeli sailors are forbidden from flying the Israel flag or any symbol on their attire and surfboards while the national anthem would not be played if any of the sailors emerged winners.

Kok Chi however warned that, ISAF could revoke the tournament’s title if the organisers breached the terms and conditions set by the federation.  

“There is a possibility that the ISAF can withdraw the championship if the conditions are breached but I am not sure...must refer to the conditions,” said Kok Chi who has 23 years of experience in sports administration.

Recently, the IOC Executive Board revoked the Olympic Qualifying Status of the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait that was scheduled from November 1-12 after the International Shooting Sports Federation’s Technical Delegate Yair Davidovich was denied a visa by the Kuwaiti Immigration Department.  

Besides that, another reason for revoking was because the Kuwait Olympic Committee was suspended by the IOC due to government interference in the rules of the Olympic Charter, where the committee is not entitled to participate in any activities related to the Olympic Movement.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin when contacted by Bernama, said: “We accept the decision by the Israeli Youth Team to withdraw from participating in the ISAF YWC 2015.

As this is a diplomatic issue, we are guided by the existing policy of the Malaysian Government.”

World Sailing President Carlo Croce said a member of the World Sailing Executive is on the way to Malaysia to investigate the issue and would seek clarification from the Malaysian Organising committee and authorities. 

“World Sailing expects the organising committee to allow sailors from all nations to compete on an equal basis.

This expectation is made clear in the bid process and is set out in the contractual documentation governing our events,” he said in a statement on its official website, www.sailing.org.   

The official opening ceremony for the championship, participated by a record 430 sailors from 80 countries will be held tomorrow at the Lagenda Park in Langkawi. — Bernama