The show of poor sportsmanship by Muslim nations at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this week continued following a judo competition.
Spectators booed Egyptian judo fighter Islam El Shehaby following his first-round loss to Israel’s Or Sasson. El Shehaby refused to shake hands with Sasson after the Israeli athlete extended it following the defeat, CBS News reported.
DISGRACEFUL!
Egyptian refuses to shake hand of Israeli Judoka Or Sasson after being defeated by him at #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/uCbG39V9oW— SussexFriendsIsrael (@SussexFriends) August 12, 2016
Bowing or shaking hands is a traditional sign of respect in the Japanese martial art, and the referee called El Shehaby back to the mat after he brushed off Sasson’s gesture. The Egyptian gave a nod of his head, but still refused to bow.
A spokesman for the International Judo Federation said Shehaby’s “attitude will be reviewed after the games to see if any further action should be taken.”
“This is already a big improvement that Arabic countries accept to (fight) Israel,” spokesman Nicolas Messner said in an email, noting that though a hand shake is not obligatory, a bow is mandatory.
The judo incident is not, unfortunately, an isolated display of anti-Israeli sentiment at the games. The animosity has even led to a rebuke from the International Olympic Committee.
El Shahaby had reportedly been pressured to withdraw from the fight by by Islamist-leaning and nationalist voices in Egypt, according to CBS.
Hisham Hatab, head of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, had addressed whether the two athletes would shake hands before the match had taken place.
“The delegation doesn’t allow mixing politics with sports. In Judo, the players can either shake hands or bow in respect to each other. It’s up to the player,” he said.
Reaction erupted on social media over the incident.
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#Israel Sasson beats Egyptian Islam El Shehaby in 1st rnd #judo event. Egyptian then refuses to shake his hand. pic.twitter.com/WRQ1Gpd29m
— Stanislaw (@stas8t) August 12, 2016
@BarryBallinger @stas8t The whole purpose of the Olympics is to rise above all the hate.
— Craig Zimmerman (@craigzimmerman6) August 12, 2016
@stas8t Unsporting behaviour. It’s the Olypmpic Games, you fool!
— BrainDrain™ (@mannmitdemkoks) August 12, 2016
@RossMcleanSec @stas8t Has no place in sports. Should be fined or suspended if racial/political or the like.
— Sonia d. (@sdelo7) August 12, 2016
@RobProvince @SussexFriends I wish he had flipped him harder!
— C. Irwin (@Bookwormdearlor) August 12, 2016
@SussexFriends is that the olympic spirit? Why did he even bother attending?
— Esther (@Esther__VLC) August 12, 2016
@SussexFriends In terms of sport, you should always respect your opponent, win, lose or draw. Bring the heat, not your prejudices
— Caley Celt (@caledoniacelt) August 12, 2016
@stas8t He likely would have been executed when he got home had he shaken hands.
— TooOldToCount (@velosterapter) August 12, 2016
@stas8t Religion of peace and blah blah blah…
— Rors (@Rorschargos) August 12, 2016
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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