Irish Wheelchair Basketball Team to Protest Israel at European Qualifiers
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The Irish women's wheelchair basketball team plans to protest against Israel during their European Championship qualifiers match by bowing their heads during the Israeli anthem and wearing black armbands. This follows a similar protest by the Irish football team. The decision has faced criticism from advocacy groups, but the Irish Wheelchair Basketball Association stated that player consultations were integral to the decision.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Irish women's wheelchair basketball team will protest Israel during upcoming qualifiers.
- Players plan to bow heads during Israeli anthem and wear black armbands.
- The protest mirrors actions taken by the Irish men's football team.
- Advocacy groups have called for a boycott of the match.
- Senator Chris Andrews urged equal scrutiny for disabled sports.
- The Irish Wheelchair Basketball Association stated player consultations were key.
The protest against Israel in Ireland is extending to wheelchair basketball, with the Irish women's national team planning to demonstrate during their upcoming European Championship qualifiers match against Israel. The players intend to bow their heads during the Israeli national anthem and wear black armbands to commemorate those killed in Gaza. This action mirrors a similar protest by the Irish men's football team during their recent matches against Israel in the Nations League.
The decision to hold the wheelchair basketball game has drawn criticism from Irish organizations, including Irish Sport for Palestine and Health Workers for Palestine, which have called for the team to boycott the match. Senator Chris Andrews of the Sinn Fein party raised the issue in the Irish Senate last month, emphasizing that the Irish Wheelchair Basketball Association should address the matter with the same scrutiny as any other sports body, arguing against applying different standards to disabled sports.
In response to the criticism, the association stated that the final decision to participate rests with the team's leadership, but acknowledged that the players' stance was considered. They clarified that consulting with the players was a significant part of the decision-making process and that disabled athletes deserve equal opportunities, respect, and recognition. The association also addressed concerns about fundraising pages that initially did not mention the match against Israel, explaining that the information was added promptly after being brought to their attention, with no intention to mislead donors.
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