Europe Triathlon Cup excludes Israeli athletes

Organizers of the Europe Triathlon Cup City of Derry event have confirmed that no Israeli athletes will compete in the competition scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026. The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), the local organizing body, stated that its decision was based on concerns regarding the representation of the State of Israel amid the ongoing situation in Palestine. The NWTC clarified that the exclusion is not directed at individuals based on religion or ethnicity, nor is it an expression of hostility towards any athlete because they were born in Israel. Instead, the club described it as a principled stand against the normalization of Israel's presence on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer. The club committee and its members stated they had no direct role in accepting the international entries, which were handled through World Triathlon. Upon becoming aware of the Israeli athletes on the provisional entry list, NWTC made strong representations to Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon, making it clear they could not support their participation under the circumstances.