Australia Withdraws from Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Due to Security Issues

Australia’s ice hockey governing body has decided to withdraw from hosting a lower-tier men’s world championship event that included the Israeli national team, citing safety concerns as the primary motivation for this decision.

The move comes in light of a rise in antisemitic incidents reported in Australia, prompting criticism from Jewish advocacy groups and sparking discussions about the nation’s capacity to hold events that could lead to public demonstrations.

In their announcement, Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) did not explicitly mention Israel but was reported in local media to have expressed to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) that hosting the tournament in Melbourne was unfeasible due to safety risks tied to Israel’s involvement.

“IHA prioritized the safety and security of all involved, including athletes, volunteers, and spectators,” the organization stated. “While safety was the key concern, we aim to avoid commenting on broader global disputes outside the realm of ice hockey. We did not intend for our internal communications to be made public.”

The decision followed consultations with law enforcement and the venues involved.

Although ice hockey is not a major sport in Australia, this significant choice has led to a national discourse, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese being questioned about it during a television appearance. “This is a decision made by Ice Hockey Australia, a body I’m not particularly familiar with, and it’s certainly not a sport I’ve followed closely, unlike many Australians,” stated Albanese. “As a nation, we must firmly oppose all forms of racism, especially antisemitism.”

This tournament, categorized as a Division II Group A event targeting lower-ranked teams, was set to include participants from Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates.

While the IIHF did not immediately respond to inquiries about the situation, the IHA anticipates that the global governing body will identify another host for the scheduled tournament taking place from April 27 to May 3.

Interestingly, a separate Division II Group B tournament is slated to occur in New Zealand concurrently.

Following the military actions between Hamas and Israel that escalated on October 7, 2023, Australia has seen a significant uptick in antisemitic occurrences. In December, an arson attack occurred involving a vehicle, and multiple residences were vandalized with anti-Israel messages in Sydney, prompting federal law enforcement to take action against rising antisemitic crimes throughout Australia.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, argued that stepping back from hosting a sporting event involving Israel conveys an inappropriate message. “Sports have historically been a battleground where anti-Israel sentiments aim to divide Israelis from the global community,” Ryvchin commented to Sky News Australia. “What is particularly disappointing is that those in power have chosen to submit to such extremism.”