Israel's flag removed from swimming event in Qatar but Israeli swimmer wins two medals anyway

Flag removed from outside Aspire Aquatic Center in Doha and from swimming lane of Israeli athletes in TV broadcast.

By ALLON SINAI
Amit Ivry 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
Amit Ivry 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
While the organizers did their best to try and ignore the Israeli delegation, swimmer Amit Ivry scaled the podium in a World Cup event in the Persian Gulf for the second time in five days on Monday night in Doha, Qatar.
A blank white square appeared next to Ivry’s name on the TV screens ahead of Monday’s 100-meter Individual Medley final, with the hosts refusing to broadcast the Israel flag.
However, the 24-year-old overcame the distraction and finished the non-Olympic shortcourse final in second position in a new Israeli record time of 58.66 seconds.
Last week, Ivry claimed a bronze medal in the World Cup event in Dubai, setting a new national record in the 100m breaststroke final.
The Israeli men ended the World Cup events in Dubai and Doha without medals, but Guy Barnea (50m backstroke), Gal Nevo (200m IM) and Yakov Toumarkin (200m backstroke) all finished their respective finals in Doha in fifth place.