Dubai update: UAE relents, gives Israeli Andy Ram a visa
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Although it came too late to help Shahar Peer, the United Arab Emirates reversed its policy decision and granted a visa for another Israeli player, doubles specialist Andy Ram, allowing him to participate in the Dubai tennis tournament next week.
International uproar over the decision by the UAE to refuse Peer a visa was the driving force behind the reversal. Ramifications for future sporting events in Dubai also played a role.
Peer, who said she is looking forward to playing Dubai in 2010, has handled herself with class and dignity and issued this statement through the Women’s Tennis Assn.
‘This is a great victory for the principle that all athletes should be treated equally and without discrimination, regardless of gender, religion, race or nationality. It is also a victory for sport as a whole, and the power of sport to bring people together. ‘It is still very unfortunate that due to the decision of the Dubai tournament and the UAE, I could not participate in the tournament this year. This has hurt me significantly both personally and professionally. However, I am very happy for Andy Ram, who will be able to compete next week in Dubai. I hope and believe that from this day forward, athletes from all over the world will be able to compete in the UAE and anywhere else in the world without discrimination of any kind.’
WTA’s chairman and chief executive officer, Larry Scott, released his own statement earlier Thursday morning, hinting at potential sanctions for the tournament:
Shahar Peer is owed all of our thanks for her courage in challenging an unjust policy and for forcing action to be taken that resulted in today’s announcement. We thank all of the many organizations and individuals that rallied behind Shahar and pressed the UAE to change their discriminatory stance. It is deeply regrettable that Shahar had to suffer the negative consequences of the UAE decision this past week in order for this policy to get turned around for the benefit of others. What happened to Shahar last week was discriminatory, reprehensible and unacceptable, and the Tour will shortly be determining remedies for her, penalties to be imposed on the tournament, and the additional assurances we will require to guarantee all Israeli athletes entry to the UAE so that future tournaments in the UAE may take place.
Finally, the men’s tour weighed in with statements from Adam Helfant, the ATP’s executive chairman as well as Ram.
Said Ram: ‘I am pleased that the UAE today confirmed that I will be able to travel to their country next week to compete in the Dubai Tennis Championships. As a professional tennis player, I thrive on competing at the world’s best events and next week will be no different. I want to thank everyone involved for their support over the last week. My focus is now on my tennis and ensuring that I can perform to the best of my abilities on the court and I am very much looking forward to doing that in Dubai next week.’
-- Lisa Dillman
