Arab countries have complicated relationships with Israel which, in sports, often resulted in scandals in the (not so distant) past. As Arab countries continue hosting athletic events, one of the big issues was the ban on the Israeli flag and anthem. For example, only last February, the Israeli flag was not allowed to be raised at the opening ceremony at the youth handball tournament in Qatar. Last year, when an Israeli judoka Tal Flicker won gold at a competition in Abu Dhabi, the Israeli flag was not raised and the Israeli anthem was not played. The Israeli team was also not allowed to use the country’s symbols on their uniform. In reaction to that, the International Judo Federation decided to suspend the competition this year and only lifted the suspension after the UAE Judo Federation promised to allow the Israeli flag and anthem.
The flag and anthem issue was also one of the concerns for the Israeli gymnasts, considering that Israeli is sending a full team to Worlds this year (and they would very much like to compete in the uniforms with Israeli flags) and that Artem Dolgopyat, the reigning silver medalists on floor, has a potential chance to get gold on the event.
Konstantin Razvozov, a former Israeli judoka and a 2004 Olympian, who is now a Knesset [Israeli parliament] member, made an official request to the Qatari Gymnastics Federation for the guarantees that Israeli gymnasts will not be discriminated at the World Championships. The federation responded that the Israeli gymnasts will be treated the same as the gymnasts from other countries and there will be no ban on the Israeli flag or anthem.
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