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Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer released a comprehensive statement in connection with the controversial refusal by United Arab Emirates to grant her a visa and play at the Dubai Tennis Championships and the latter’s decision to admit her compatriot, doubles specialist Andy Ram.
According to reports, Ram will be able to play in next week’s ATP Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.
Peer’s dilemma placed ATP under pressure to make sure that Ram, who won the Australian Open men’s doubles title last year, can compete next week. ATP President Adam Helfant said that he’s pleased that the efforts made to secure Ram’s visa have been successful.
“No player who qualifies to play an ATP World Tour event should be denied their right to compete on the basis of ethnicity, nationality or religion and we are happy that the Dubai Tennis Championships and the UAE have shown that they share that view,” Helfant said.
Here’s the complete statement from Shahar Peer:
“I welcome the decision just announced by the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai tournament to reverse a stance that until now has prevented Israeli athletes from competing in the UAE. 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. I personally look forward to competing in Dubai next year.
This has been a very difficult period for me, and I want to thank the many thousands of fans and organizations all over the world that made this breakthrough possible, including the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and my fellow players. All of them have supported me these past days, weeks and months. It is truly humbling and also inspiring to know how many of us feel strongly and are willing to do all that we can to break down barriers of discrimination.”
