"Cycling team Israel Premier Tech has been excluded from an upcoming race in Italy over concerns about pro-Palestinian protests and disruption if the team was to participate. The decision by organizers of the Giro dell'Emilia race comes after protesters repeatedly disrupted the recent Spanish Vuelta, where Israel Premier Tech took part. Spain's government estimated that more than 100,000 people were on the streets in Madrid during the final stage this month. In total, seven of the last 11 days of racing at the Vuelta were cut short or interrupted."
""We believe that sport is a vehicle of universal values of sharing, fair competition, solidarity between people," Li Calzi said Saturday. "We are satisfied to learn that this opinion is shared by the organization of the race, which today officially confirmed to us that the Israeli team will not take part in the Giro dell'Emilia. "I thank them for this sensitivity, which I believe is shared by a large part of our community.""
Israel Premier Tech was excluded from the Giro dell'Emilia in Italy amid concerns that pro-Palestinian protests could disrupt the race. Organizers cited repeated disruptions at the recent Vuelta in Spain, where more than 100,000 people gathered in Madrid for the final stage and seven of the last 11 days of racing were cut short or interrupted. Bologna councilor Roberta Li Calzi welcomed the removal, framing sport as a vehicle of universal values. The team is co-owned by Sylvan Adams and sponsor Premier Tech expects a rebrand. Calls to ban Israeli teams in European competitions have increased amid Gaza-related protests.
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