NationStates Jolt Archive

Friday, February 20, 2009
Closed-door Davis Cup decision defies logic

It's been a political, and difficult, week in the world of tennis. First, the United Arab Emirates denied a visa to Shahar Peer, an Israeli who had hoped to play in Dubai this week. Then the UAE, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, seemed on the verge of denying a visa to doubles player Andy Ram (also from Israel), until an outcry forced the government to change course. The Dubai tournament still faces sanctions and might lose its tournaments altogether without adequate assurances that there won't be a repeat of this fiasco next year.

Peer and Ram have attracted the most attention this week, but still another injustice has befallen Israeli tennis, this time in Sweden. The Israeli team, which has qualified for its second World Group tie in 15 years, will travel to Malmo, Sweden, next month. Only a few journalists, and fellow players, will watch now that the local government in Malmo, Sweden's third-largest city, has decided that security concerns are too great to allow fans into the arena.

Malmo has a substantial immigrant population, including many Muslims, and its citizens plan to protest against Israel during the match (you can learn more here, even if your only language is English -- you'll get the idea). While I question the effectiveness of picketing an Israeli tennis team to bring attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the folks in Malmo can do as they please. But are they so dangerous that not one of them can be allowed into the stadium? How is it that local authorities can ensure the safe arrival and departure of the Israeli players, yet not ensure that dangerous fans, or fans carrying weapons of some kind, don't enter the building?

Perhaps I'm naïve about Sweden or the Malmo locals, but I can't imagine that a significant percentage of protesters would have any interest in harming the players. It shouldn't be difficult to secure the court and the players from those few protesters who might be dangerous. The Malmo arena holds a mere 4,000 fans. We're not talking about a World Cup soccer match or the Super Bowl. If I'm one of the Israeli players, I'm wondering if I should attend this tie at all. How is that I'll be safe in Malmo, but the government can't guarantee my safety in a 4,000-seat arena? It defies all logic.

The International Tennis Federation has "reluctantly," to quote the organization's statement, gone along with the determination of the local government, calling it "very unfortunate" and saying the decision is "not in the long-term interests of Davis Cup." The ITF is correct, this decision goes against everything Davis Cup stands for. It's supposed to be an open competition between nations, an event that promotes healthy nationalism, rather than gives into fear, bigotry or anti-nationalism. Only one time in the past has a Davis Cup tie been played behind closed doors, and that also happened in Sweden (when the Swedes took on Chile in Bastad in 1975). If Malmo officials don't believe they can police this event, then fine, that's their decision. But the ITF doesn't have to go along with it. It would have done better to postpone the tie, demand that it be played in another city, or cancel it altogether and force Sweden to forfeit the match. For Davis Cup, one closed-door match is enough.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3922059&name=tennis

*sighs* This is just ridiculous. Seriously, if you really can't secure the facility, you shouldn't be holding the match. Of course, there might be a political angle to this as well, according to this Israeli news site:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130044

Comments?

Makes you want to swat somebody's balls with a racquet, doesn't it?

Makes you want to swat somebody's balls with a racquet, doesn't it?
Doesn't everything make you feel like doing that?
It's one of your main drives, after mud and tacos, is it not?

They're probably afraid that Israelite fans traveling to the match might become targets for islamistic terrorism. So I'd think the main idea is to protect the Israeli fans from harm not just inside but also outside the stadium. They may be overly cautious, but in the end they hurt themselves more than their guests by choosing to play in front of an empty stadium. So I don't see a major reason for complaining there.

Doesn't everything make you feel like doing that?
It's one of your main drives, after mud and tacos, is it not?

Yep. :)

Sweden against Israel at tennis?

I suspect they're simply protecting spectators from dying of boredom.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3922059&name=tennis

*sighs* This is just ridiculous. Seriously, if you really can't secure the facility, you shouldn't be holding the match. Of course, there might be a political angle to this as well, according to this Israeli news site:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130044

Comments?

Given that the Malmo police had given the event a green light, it's hard to not see it as a political move.

Given that the Malmo police had given the event a green light, it's hard to not see it as a political move.
This.


The police would have allowed the public to be admitted. Forsberg conceded that police had given the event the green light, but added, "Ultimately, Malmö Council is responsible for safety and security."
Glad to see the the retarded bureaucracy is alive and well in Sweden.

Typical fucked up Sweden:

"Is it safe to do A?"
Police: We believe we should let the public do A. We allow it.
Swedish Council: How about no.

Also...remember this is Malmö, the city which Sweden has effectively turned into a little slice of The Third World.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzLECtFT4aU

The anticipated crowd couldn't be anywhere near as big as some of the crowds that turned up to hear Obama during the election campaign. Security seemed to work in those instances.

The people of Malmö are probably just embarrassed that their city's name sounds like some sort of cookie or candy bar. So they've decided to keep as many people away as they can until they get the name issue sorted out.

Makes you want to swat somebody's balls with a racquet, doesn't it?

LG, you're like Jesus to these forums

Pretty sure that everyone in Sweden is watching hockey anyway.

LG, you're like Jesus to these forums

:eek:


Nobody's gonna nail me to anything!

:eek:


Nobody's gonna nail me to anything!

But a squirting crucifix looks so much fun!

Open borders ftw.

It's a bit sad how nobody is taking this seriously. . .

But then when I raise a concern about this, people often respond with "RACISM AGAINST ISLAM!" . . .

So on NSG it's either ignoring the issues, or flaming the messenger. . .

It's a bit sad how nobody is taking this seriously. . .

But then when I raise a concern about this, people often respond with "RACISM AGAINST ISLAM!" . . .

So on NSG it's either ignoring the issues, or flaming the messenger. . .

It's anti-Jewish sentiment, pure and simple.

But a squirting crucifix looks so much fun!

depends on What is Squirting from Where...

We boycotted South Africa and other countries in sporting events, Israel's apartheid state with its illegal wars and occupations and atrocious human rights abuses deserves no better. That this match will be played at all is a shame.

/€0.02, but I don't really care. It's a stupid sporting event in a particularly pointless sport. I have more important things to be concerned with, like for instance why the fabric softener I usually buy all of a sudden has a different scent.

It's anti-Jewish sentiment, pure and simple.
Indeed. It's simply 'popular' and 'acceptable' to be anti-Israeli in the international left because the Palestinians are the "underdog". . .

The Swedish government is acting in a ridiculous, purely political manner (while denying and lying about it) and I don't like it one bit.

But a squirting crucifix looks so much fun!

depends on What is Squirting from Where...

Hmm.... *heads to the drawing board*

Sweden against Israel at tennis? I suspect they're simply protecting spectators from dying of boredom.

I'm going to have to go with this. If it wasn't for eighteen year old Russian girls in those little skirts, tennis wouldn't be televised at all.

does anyone remember when people just played sports?

"healthy nationalism"

i'm not particularly inclined to believe such a thing exists