|
January 7, 2025
Ice Hockey Australia has abandoned holding world championship matches in Melbourne over fears Israel's presence would make it too dangerous for players and fans, sparking accusations the government is destroying the nation's global reputation.
In a "strictly confidential" email obtained by The Australian, IHA president and director Ryan O'Handley advised the International Ice Hockey Federation executive body on December 30 that the World Men's Division II (Group A) championships would be canned due to safety and security concerns linked to Israel's participation.
The event, scheduled for April-May, was expected to be a landmark occasion for Australian sports, marking the first time since 2011 this country hosted the division championships.
There has been no official announcement from the IIHF or the Australian federation.
Victoria Police said it had provided feedback about current protest activity in Melbourne, but any decision to cancel "was one for Ice Hockey Australia".
"We understand that people are concerned following the synagogue fire in Ripponlea on 6 December; however, there are currently no known or specific threats to any Victorian organisation, infrastructure or event, and police encourage people to go about their daily business," a police spokesperson said.
But in his email, Mr O'Handley claimed concerns over Israel's participation were raised in October when police warned IHA of a "high chance of an incident" during the championship.
"By the end of October, the venue and the District Docklands precinct also expressed their concerns to us regarding the safety and security of the event. This prompted us to begin correspondence with the IIHF regarding ... the escalating antiIsrael activities in Melbourne," he said in the email.
"Then, as you are all likely aware, there was an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne on December 6th. Subsequent discussions with the venue and precinct occurred, along with a thorough risk assessment and consideration of all of our options. It was concluded just prior to Christmas that we could not host due to significant safety and security risks associated with Israel's participation."
Mr O'Handley said the decision to dump the championships was not politically motivated.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said anti-Semitism was left to fester in the streets of Melbourne, accusing the Albanese Labor government and Premier Jacinta Allan's leadership of "disastrous" consequences for the nation's international reputation.
"The Albanese and Allan governments have let anti-Semitism get completely out of control and this is the result," Senator Paterson said.
"It is absolutely disastrous for our international reputation that we can't safely host international sporting events due to a failure to tackle rampant extremism since 7 October.
"This is yet another wake-up call that it is past time to enforce the law and take this community safety crisis seriously before it gets even worse."
In a statement sent to The Australian, a spokesperson for IHA confirmed "significant consultations" were made with important stakeholders.
"Ice Hockey Australia holds the health and safety of participants, spectators and the wider community (as) an absolute priority," the spokesperson said.
A state government spokesperson said the event was not funded by the taxpayer, and the decision to cancel it was made by the organisation, and was not based on advice from police.
The nation's peak Jewish body labelled the cancellation a "dreadful" and "dangerous" capitulation, and called for the state and federal sport ministers to intervene.
"This is a dreadful decision and should be rescinded," Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said. "It cannot be that violent extremists dictate which visiting sporting teams come to our country and deprive Australians of the joy of watching live international sports."