Italy's Giro dell'Emilia organizers have barred the Israel-Premier Tech cycling squad from participating in their October 4 competition, citing concerns about potential pro-Palestinian demonstrations and potential disruptions to the race, CBC Sports reported on Saturday.
Race organizers made their decision following widespread protests during Spain's recent Vuelta competition, where the Israeli-sponsored squad competed despite repeated disruptions, according to CBC Sports. Spanish authorities reported that over 100,000 demonstrators filled the streets of Madrid during the competition's final stage earlier this month. Seven stages out of the Vuelta's final 11 racing days were interrupted or ended prematurely due to protest activities, CBC Sports noted.
Bologna city councillor Roberta Li Calzi expressed support for the organizers' decision to exclude the Israeli-sponsored squad from the single-day Italian competition. "We believe that sport is a vehicle of universal values of sharing, fair competition, solidarity between people," Li Calzi stated Saturday, according to CBC Sports. Race organizers had formally confirmed to city officials that the Israeli squad would not participate in the upcoming Giro dell'Emilia. "I thank them for this sensitivity, which I believe is shared by a large part of our community," Li Calzi added in her statement to CBC Sports.
European sports organizations face mounting pressure to exclude Israeli teams from various competitive events across the continent, according to CBC Sports.
