NW Triathlon Club confirms no Israeli athletes to compete after it raises concerns
The North West Triathlon Club has confirmed no Israeli athletes will compete in this weekend’s highly-anticipated Europe Triathlon Cup - City of Derry event in the city.
The club said it became aware of a number of Israeli athletes on the Senior Elite Men’s provisional entry list when it was published on the World Triathlon website.
NWTC, its club committee and its grassroots membership, said it had ‘no involvement whatsoever in accepting or approving these international entries. International registration was handled through World Triathlon and was outside the control of NWTC’.
The local committee said that when it became aware of the situation it made strong representations to Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon and ‘made clear in the strongest possible terms that it could not support their participation in the circumstances’.
Following these representations it was confirmed that none of the listed Israeli participants would be taking part.
NWTC said their objections were not related to the individual athletes but due to the representation of the State of Israel in international sport amid the ongoing situation in Palestine.
“This is not a position directed at anyone because of their religion or ethnicity, nor is it hostility towards an individual simply because they were born in Israel.
"It is a position concerning representation of the State of Israel in international sport and the attempt to present normality on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer.
“The safety of every athlete, volunteer, spectator and member of the public has been our overriding priority throughout the organisation of the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup — City of Derry.
“Our position was based on our clubs values, our members values, and on the very real concerns being raised around athlete and public safety, the potential for serious disruption and the wider risk to an event involving hundreds of competitors from Ireland and across the world.
"NWTC believed it had a responsibility to speak clearly and urgently when the safety of athletes, spectators, volunteers and the wider public — and potentially the ability of the event itself to proceed — could be placed at risk.
“As a result of this, it has been confirmed that no Israeli athletes will race in Derry this weekend,” the club stated.
NWTC said it is pleased its concerns had been listened to and treated with the gravity they required.
“Our focus can now return fully to what this weekend should be about — welcoming athletes from across the world to Derry and showcasing our city, our river and our people on the international sporting stage. A huge amount of work has gone into bringing this event to Derry. We are looking forward to seeing people come out across the city to support the event as volunteers, enjoy the racing and give every athlete competing this weekend the welcome for which Derry is so well known,” it stated.
The prestigious event takes place in Derry on Saturday with elite competitors travelling from across the globe to take part. It will be the first international elite triathlon to take place in Derry since the memorable International Triathlon Union World Cup in 1995.