Tour Reverses Decision to Bar Israeli Players from Indoor Championships

Tour Reverses Decision to Bar Israeli Players from Indoor Championships
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Tour Reverses Decision to Bar Israeli Players from Indoor Championships

Tour Reverses Decision to Bar Israeli Players from Indoor Championships

The World Bowls Tour has reversed a decision to bar Israeli players from this month's World Indoor Bowls Championships in England after putting in place additional security measures.

The WBT said in a statement that the Israelis were welcome to participate in the Jan. 10-26 tournament at Potters Resorts in Hopton-on-Sea, near the eastern port of Great Yarmouth.

"Significant additional security measures have been put in place," it explained, Reuters reported.

"The WBT acknowledges that this has been a difficult time for all involved and we are pleased that we have been able to achieve an outcome that includes players for all supporting countries."

The U-turn restores Daniel Alomin to the singles draw and Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi to the pairs.

The original decision, which followed a campaign by pro-Palestinian groups, was condemned by a local parliamentarian and Jewish representatives.

The WBT is not affiliated with World Bowls, the Melbourne-based international federation that organises a rival World Bowls Indoor Championships.



England Coach Tuchel Expects Players to Suffer in World Cup Heat 

 England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
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England Coach Tuchel Expects Players to Suffer in World Cup Heat 

 England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)

England coach Thomas Tuchel will attend FIFA's Club World Cup starting this month to observe how players cope with the expected hot and humid weather conditions.

Next year's World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, could be one of the hottest in the tournament's history.

"It is important to see matches now in America, and in Miami at three in the afternoon," Tuchel said as he prepared his team for their World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona.

"I will see that. How it looks, and we need to understand how to cool the players down, to drink. What our options are."

England are top of qualifying Group K and almost certain to qualify for next year's tournament where they will be among the favorites for the title.

But Tuchel says the conditions will be harsh.

"Let's see because it is after the season, so it will be very similar. The actual experience is for the players, but I have done pre-season there in Orlando and I will be very surprised if we do not suffer," he said.

"Suffering is one of the headlines for this World Cup."

England are preparing for the Andorra game in the Spanish city of Girona and are using heat tents to test the players reaction and recovery to training in heat and humidity.

Sixteen stadiums will be used at next year's World Cup with predictions of potentially extreme temperatures.

In Dallas, one of the host cities, in an average year more than 80% of June and July days exceed 28 degrees Celsius.

A study led by Brunel University found that, according to analysis of 20 years of weather data, 14 of the 16 host stadiums would top 28 degrees Celsius on a daily basis in June and July with four likely to hit 32 degrees in a hotter than summer.

FIFPRO, the world players union, recommends that if there is Wet Bulb Globe Temperature of between 28-32 degree, cooling breaks should take place around the 30th and 75th minutes.

It says that if there is a WBGT of more than 32 degrees, training and matches should be rescheduled.