"Israeli tennis player Andy Ram has been granted entry permit to play in next week's ATP Dubai Tennis Championships. His compatriot Shahar Peer was on Sunday refused entry to play in the women's event.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement . . . : 'The relevant government department has issued a special entry permit to allow the tennis player Mr. Andy Ram to enter the country to take part in next week's international tennis tournament being held in Dubai.
The decision to issue the permit is in line with the UAE's commitment to a policy of permitting any individual to take part in international sports, cultural and economic events or activities being held in the country, without any limitation being placed on participation by citizens of any member country of the United Nations.
This is a well-established policy and has no political implications. Nor does this decision indicate any form of normalization of relations with countries with whom the UAE does not have diplomatic relations.'"
I won't ask the obvious questions. Just happy about this development. Baby steps. I get it.
2 comments:
Hmmm...guess baby steps is the key here. Hope the UAE can make an allowence the next time a female Israeli athlete wants to participate over there...or, better yet, that the rest of the world boycott the UAE UNTIL they allow entrance of athletes of all nationalities.
I guess gender remains a bigger issue than nationality... so many minorities, so little time to discriminate.
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