The Israel-Premier Tech (PRT) team is clearly a vehicle for advancing Israel’s image, and, indeed, advancing favourable propaganda.
Many readers will know that South Australia hosts the Santos Tour Down Under (Tour Down Under) in January each year. It is traditionally the opening event of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) World Tour. That is the premier men’s elite road cycling tour. The Tour Down Under was established in South Australia in 1999 and has been held annually thereafter, save for the Covid induced cancellations in 2021 and 2022. In 2024 the Tour Down Under is due to take place from 12-21 January.
The Tour Down Under has been a most successful event for South Australia. It became the first non-European event to achieve UCI Pro Tour status. It generally features stages through Adelaide and surrounding countryside including the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
But in 2024 there is a problem. One of the teams is Israel–Premier Tech (PRT). Israel-Premier Tech was founded in 2014 and is based in Israel. The team debuted in the Tour Down Under in 2020. The problem is that Israel maintains an involvement in UCI’s World Tour whilst at the same time destroying Gaza through a bombing campaign that to date has resulted in the deaths of well over 20,000 people, including over 8,000 children.
Many believe that Israel’s involvement in the Tour Down Under should not happen.
How could such a premier sporting event be so tarnished? But quite apart from the current........