Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 26, 2017
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Judoka Tal Flicker wins gold at Abu Dhabi, hosts refuse to play Israeli anthem
Israeli judoka Tal Flicker wins gold in the under-66 kilo class at the Judo Grand Slam championship in Abu Dhabi.
As with bronze-medalist Gili Cohen earlier today, Abu Dhabi officials banned the playing of Israel’s national anthem or flying of Israel’s flag, leading the announcer at the award ceremony for Flicker to turn to a sarcastic tone when he announced the “playing of the national anthem” — a pause — “of the International Judo Federation.”
Israeli gold-medalist judoka Tal Flicker singing the Israeli national anthem despite local officials’ refusal to play it at the Judo Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, where local judo authorities banned all Israeli symbols, October 26, 2017. (YouTube screen capture)
Despite the federation’s song playing, judoka Flicker visibly mouthed the words of Israel’s anthem, Hatikvah.
Israeli gold-medalist judoka Tal Flicker at the award ceremony at the Judo Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, where local judo authorities banned all Israeli symbols, October 26, 2017. (YouTube screen capture)
