Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
35. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on an organisation (details supplied) playing Israel in a EuroBasket qualifier, despite the ongoing genocide committed by Israel in Palestine. [6878/24]
View answerIssues regarding the participation by individuals and teams in international sporting competitions are matters for the relevant international governing bodies of sport. The international federations (FIBA, the International Basketball Federation in this instance) have a leadership role for their global games and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries’ National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Neither I nor my Department has any role in this regard. Such matters are ultimately a decision for the sporting organisations themselves, which are independent and autonomous entities.
In this instance, the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifier match between Ireland and Israel was originally scheduled to take place in Israel on 9 November 2023. Following the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last October, Basketball Ireland, the NGB for the game in Ireland, issued a statement in relation to the original fixture concerning the welfare of players travelling to a conflict area.
In consultation with FIBA, the original match was postponed to February on the understanding that it would be played at a neutral venue. The match was subsequently rescheduled for 8 February 2024 in Riga, Latvia, at Basketball Ireland’s request. Basketball Ireland has explained that, as forfeiting the game would lead to a significant fine and put at risk Ireland's participation in the 2025 and 2027 EuroBasket qualifiers, it made the decision to honour its fixture commitment.
Basketball Ireland made the decision to honour its fixture commitment and has set out its reasons for doing so and we must acknowledge its independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision. It should also be acknowledged that this situation places individual players in a very difficult position. It should also be noted that sporting entities in other countries have continued to honour fixture schedules with Israel.
In conclusion, I want to assure the Deputy that the Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages and for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
