Cycling team Israel-Premier Tech has been barred from participating in an upcoming race in Italy due to concerns regarding potential pro-Palestinian demonstrations and disruptions. The decision by the organizers of the Giro dell’Emilia race follows disruptive protests during the recent Spanish Vuelta, where Israel Premier Tech was involved. Spain’s government estimated that over 100,000 protesters gathered in Madrid during the final stage of the race this month, leading to seven out of the last 11 racing days being either shortened or interrupted.
Roberta Li Calzi, a councilor in Bologna, expressed approval of the decision to exclude the team from the one-day race scheduled for October 4. She emphasized the importance of sports embodying universal values like fair competition and solidarity among people, echoing the sentiments of the race organizers who officially confirmed that the Israeli team would not be participating in the Giro dell’Emilia.
The team, co-owned by Israeli Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, and sponsored by Premier Tech, a multinational company headquartered in Quebec, Canada, announced plans for a rebranding. Calls to exclude Israel from various European sports competitions have been growing.
Protesters in Spain cited Israel’s military operations in Gaza, resulting in a significant number of casualties, as the reason behind their demonstrations. The military campaign was launched after a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.
