SDLP's days as party of tolerance 'long gone' as MLA backs removal of Israeli athletes from City of Derry triathlon
SDLP support for the removal of Israeli athletes from a triathlon event in Londonderry shows the old party of “tolerance and understanding is long gone”, an Ulster Unionist MLA has said.
Competitors from the country had been due to take part in the Europe Triathlon Cup, but the North West Triathlon Club (NWTC) demanded their removal – saying it “could not support their participation”.
Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said he was “relieved that no Israeli athletes will compete” – claiming that there had been “understandable anger” that “Israel would be competing”.
Steve Aiken of the UUP said it is “appalling” that any elected representative would express relief that any Israeli athlete would be excluded from participating in a sporting event.
He said Mr Durkan’s comments “just goes to show that the old SDLP of reasonable tolerance and understanding is long gone”.
"There is tragedy and violence across the Middle East and beyond, again very telling that the SDLP doesn’t call out the UAE for support of RSF in Sudan, Iran for supporting Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah, nor calling for banning of athletes from China or the United States”, the South Antrim MLA said.
Up to 200 athletes from around the world are due to take part in the event in the maiden city today (Saturday), four of whom were Israeli.
In a statement on social media, NWTC said it became aware of the potential participation of Israeli athletes only when the provisional entry list was published on the World Triathlon website.
The organisation said it had “no involvement whatsoever in accepting or approving these international entries”.
It added: “NWTC immediately made strong representations to Triathlon Ireland and Europe Triathlon and made clear in the strongest possible terms that it could not support their participation in the circumstances.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, athletes representing Israel will not be participating in the City of Derry Triathlon on Saturday. They will not be lining up at our start line and will not be taking part in our race. There will be no Israeli representation competing at this event.”
The NWTC said their position was not directed at anyone because of their religion or ethnicity, but was a position “concerning representation of the state of Israel in international sport and the attempt to present normality on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer”.
It added that the “safety of every athlete, volunteer, spectator and member of the public has been our overriding priority throughout the organisation of the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup”.
In a Facebook post Mr Durkan, SDLP MLA for Foyle, said: “Relieved that no Israeli athletes will compete in the European Triathlon event in Derry on Saturday.
“There has been understandable anger at the revelation that Israel would be competing - flying in the face of Council's BDS policy and the vehement opposition of people here to genocide, the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian men, women and children, and its perpetrators.
“Since this information became public I have reflected my own, the SDLP's and many outraged constituents' views on the matter to representatives of NWTC and Triathlon Ireland.
“I understand that the organisers of the Derry event have been trying to address this issue since the competitor list, which is outside of their control, was produced and will issue a statement shortly”.