From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 2, 2024
Turkish judo fans outraged after local channel cuts broadcast of Israel-Turkey semifinal in Paris
Turkish judo fans express outrage on social media after the local channel TRT cut its broadcast from the Paris 2024 Olympics as Israeli judoka Raz Hershko defeated Turkey’s Kayra Ozdemir in the semifinal of the women’s over-78kg weight class.
The pair embraced following their brief match, which the Israeli judoka won in just 15 seconds.
“Are you going to the Olympics to fight or to do sports?” a Turkish viewer writes on X. “If we are defeated, we are defeated, what kind of teenage things are you doing and cutting off the broadcast?”
“What kind of nonsense is it to interrupt the broadcast just because the opponent is Israeli? This is sports, there is winning and losing. You’ve gone completely crazy,” writes another sports fan.
Comments on social media also decry that TRT called the victorious Israeli judoka “her opponent” in a post on X, without naming Hershko or mentioning her nationality.
????Milli judocumuz Kayra Özdemir, kadınlar +78kg yarı finalinde rakibine mağlup oldu.????
????????Sporcumuz bugün bronz madalya için tatamiye çıkacak.???? pic.twitter.com/EMFs9BCzh8
— TRT Spor Yıldız (@trtsporyildiz) August 2, 2024
Earlier today, the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv lowered its flag to half mast in honor of slain Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, drawing swift backlash from outraged Israeli officials.
