A joint move by the Ministry of Sports, the Olympic Committee, the umbrella organizations, sports associations, the Unit for Competitive Sports and El Al Airlines has created an arrangement that allows sports delegations and athletes to immediately represent Israel around the world.

The Ministry of Transportation and the Committee of Directors General, headed by the Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Drorit Steinmetz, received the request made by the Ministry of Sports regarding the importance of the continued presence of Israeli athletes in international competitions and approved their departure.

On Friday, the delegation of the U-19 National Basketball Team, surfer Anat Lelior and badminton player Misha Zilberman will leave the country for international competitions. These are the first athletes to depart from Israel for international competitions in a regulated manner since the war with Iran began. In the coming days, delegations and athletes will continue to depart as needed and in accordance with the proper approvals.

In recent days, since the beginning of the war, in a series of emergency discussions led by the Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zohar, with the participation of the Olympic Committee and the wider organizations, it was made clear that a quick solution must be created for the vital need for athletes to compete and for Israel’s ability to be represented on the world sports stage.

Following the talks, it was decided to compile a list of teams and athletes from the most senior level by the Olympic Committee together with the wider organizations and in consultation with the Unit for Competitive Sports and then submit it it to the Ministry of Sports, headed by the Director General, Kfir Cohen and the Head of the Sports Directorate, Moran Mesika, who are at the forefront of dealing with the Ministry of Transportation.

Late Thursday night, the long-awaited approval was received from the Exceptions Committee as the Under-19 Men’s National Basketball Team will be able to represent Israel at the World Championships to be held in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Alongside the athletes, Yael Arad, the Chairperson of the Olympic Committee and an IOC member, will also leave for Lausanne for the coronation of the new President of the Olympic Committee, former Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry and bid farewell to the outgoing President, Thomas Bach, Israel’s greatest friend in world sports. Arad will be present at special event for IOC members and the heads of the world’s leading sports federations, an event that constitutes a summit conference of sports leaders and at this time, Israeli presence is even more important than ever.

Yael Arad said, “The athletes’ departure is an important statement by the Minister of Sports and the State of Israel that Israeli sports constitute an incomparably important arena for representing the Israeli spirit and the people of Israel. In these complex days, the presence
of Israeli athletes in the most senior championships proves not only Israeli excellence but also the resilience of our people.

“We want to thank a number of parties – the Ministry of Sports, Transportation and the Committee of Directors – who mobilized and through hard work in recent days behind the scenes, created a mechanism that allows for the continuity of Israel’s representation in world sports. These days, the importance is clearer than ever. We will continue to raise the Israeli flag to the glory of the State of Israel.”

Arad continued, “I personally want to thank our members at the IOC who are closely following the situation and accompanying us in the struggle that has been experienced in the realm of Israeli sports during the war and are strengthening us in a very moving way. My trip to the presidential exchange ceremony is another opportunity to strengthen the status of Israeli sports in the world arena.”