Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – An Israeli sports delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to participate in the World Weightlifting Championships, as reported by Israeli media. This marks a historic moment, as it’s the first time Israeli weightlifters are competing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the championship that began on Sunday.
The Israeli public broadcaster Kan has highlighted that this competition in Saudi Arabia holds particular significance because it will allow Israel to secure a spot for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Three Israeli weightlifters are set to compete in different weight classes during the event.
Israeli athletes are expected to participate in a competition in Qatar in December, even though neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains diplomatic relations with Israel.
David Litvinov, an Israeli weightlifter, expressed his gratitude, saying, “It is really a great honor for us to have this opportunity. Ultimately, it’s a victory over politics.”
Pavel Kolosovsky, the CEO of the Israeli Weightlifting Federation, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “It is a very important day for us, and we also intend to make history during the competition.”
In recent months, the US administration has been actively working to foster diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
