Protesters ‘will sabotage Israeli athletes’ competing at world championships as eyes of world on Glasgow
ANTI-ISRAEL protesters are hatching plans to block athletes competing at an elite sporting event.
The Indoor World Athletics Championships will see over 700 athletes from more than 130 countries take part in 26 events at the Emirates Arena, in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, from March 1 to 3.
But organisers behind the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign have been drumming up support to cause mayhem.
Demonstrators are recruiting would-be activists online in a desperate bid to disrupt events and block competitors from the embattled state from taking part.
A post on their Facebook group said: “We will protest and disrupt any event where Israeli state-sponsored athletes participate.”
Organisers also shared a banner showing a violent scene, writing: “If you could see their national sport, you might be less keen to see their athletics.”
They also called for an end to “sportswashing”.
The term is used to describe the practice of using sports to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing.
It’s understood activists have already held organising meetings to plan targeting the event.
Plans for disruption were also announced at a pro-Palestinian rally outside Glasgow City Chambers in late January.
The 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships will be the 19th edition of the international indoor track and field competition.
It will be the first time they are held in Scotland.
They will come five months before the 2024 Paris Olympics and will be part of the qualification process for the competition.
A spokesperson for the World Athletics Indoor Championships said: “We take matters of safety and security extremely seriously.
“We are working closely with our colleagues at Police Scotland to plan for and mitigate against both general and specific threats, to ensure a safe and enjoyable championships’ environment for everyone.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “As with any large event, we are engaging with the organisers and an appropriate policing plan is in place.”
A spokesman for the SPSC said: “We’re calling for protest and disruption of any event with Israeli athletes.
“It’s motivated by the call from Palestine because Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.”
He refused to comment further.
World Athletics and the Israeli Athletic Association were approached for comment.
oliver.norton@news.co.uk