Sports03 September, 20262 min read
World Triathlon Removes Israeli Triathletes From Derry Europe Triathlon Cup Over Safety Concerns
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Four Israeli triathletes withdrawn from Derry Europe Triathlon Cup due to safety concerns. World Triathlon confirmed at request of Israeli federation to remove athletes from event.
Four Israeli triathletes withdrawn
Four Israeli triathletes were withdrawn from Saturday’s Europe Triathlon Cup in Derry, also known as Londonderry, after organisers said they could not support their participation over athlete and public safety concerns. The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC) said it became aware of the Israeli entries only when the provisional entry list was published on the World Triathlon website, and it added that it had “no involvement whatsoever in accepting or approving these international entries”.
World Triathlon confirmed on Thursday that it removed the Israeli competitors from the event “with immediate effect” following a request from the Israeli National Federation. The race was set to proceed with the remaining field, and the BBC reported that Triathlon Ireland confirmed the start list for Saturday’s race “does not include any athletes representing Israel.”
Safety, protests, and politics
NWTC said its position was based on “athlete and public safety” and the “potential for serious disruption,” while the Police Service of Northern Ireland told BBC News NI it had “become aware of potential protest activity in relation to the event”. In a statement on social media, NWTC said it made “strong representations” to Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon and that athletes representing Israel “will not be lining up at our start line and will not be taking part in our race.”
The Derry Anti War Coalition said it was “delighted” that the triathletes from Israel would no longer be participating in the City of Derry Triathlon. The Irish News reported that the controversy also drew condemnation from an anti war coalition supported by pro-Palestinian groups, and it quoted Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan saying there was “understandable anger at the revelation that Israel would be competing.”
What happens next for the event
Triathlon Ireland told the BBC that preparations for Saturday’s event were “continuing as planned,” and it said the selection and confirmation of athletes for Europe Triathlon Cup competition is managed by Europe Triathlon under World Triathlon rules. Derry and Strabane District Council said it was not the organiser of the event, but it highlighted its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, saying it had been made aware on Wednesday evening of concerns about “a small number of entrants taking part”.
The Belfast Live report said NWTC’s overriding priority throughout the organisation of the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup was “the safety of every athlete, volunteer, spectator and member of the public”. With the Israeli athletes removed, the BBC reported that the race would proceed in Londonderry on Saturday without the four triathletes who had been listed on the provisional entry list for the men’s elite race.