Egypt’s Islam el-Shahabi, blue, declines to shake hands with Israel’s Or Sasson, white, after losing during the men’s over 100-kg judo competition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 12, 2016. The Egyptian was ordered back to the floor to bow, was booed by the crowd, and later said he was quitting judo.
Advertisement
Failure to shake hands with an opponent after a fight is considered a major breach of judo etiquette.
Judo players always bow or shake each other’s hands before and after the match as a sign of respect in the Japanese martial art.
While some pundits say boycotting fellow athletes due to their nationality goes against the spirit of the Olympic games, many supporters of the Palestinian cause find the conduct an act of defiance against Israel.
Sasson defeated El Shehaby with two throws for an automatic victory, with about a minute and a half remaining in the bout.
“The IOC has set up a disciplinary commission to look into this matter”, an International Olympics Committee representative told TMZ.
Sasson, the first ever Israeli heavyweight, who is taking part in his first Olympic Games was up against the eight-time World champion and Olympic champion Teddy Riner, and went into the fight as heavy underdog. He said there was no obligation to shake hands, but to bow is mandatory. “There’s absolutely no excuse for it”, a spokesman said.
“We don’t want to think what will happen if you lost to an Israeli”.
Ofir Gendelman, Arabic language spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called the incident “shocking”.
“My son, watch out”.
These Olympians who have been chosen to represent their countries are faced with the hard decision to either remain neutral and risk appearing traitorous to their fans at home, or take the route that El Shehaby has and risk their reputation for seeming unsportsmanlike.
El Shehaby, 32, had been reportedly pressured by fans on social media not to show up for the match with his Israeli opponent because it would shame Islam. “Egypt will be sad and you will be seen as a traitor and a normalizer in the eyes of your people”.
Shehaby is not the first athlete to ignore the Olympic spirit over the years.
Advertisement
“Since we accepted to play under the Olympics (terms), we must accept the competition with everyone regardless of anything”, Abdel Aziz said before the match.
