Tel Aviv 2018: Giro d’Italia organizers in Israel has just claimed on Sunday that they don’t really fear the major event, aka one of the three grand Tours, will be boycotted in any way. The event is set to take place between May 4 and May 27.
We are on the map all over Europe today . Triple fronts: 1. #tourofthealps .2. #TourofCroatia 3. #vueltacastillaleon . Shaping up to the @giroditalia . pic.twitter.com/S7hEEx2tPa
— IsraelCyclingAcademy (@yallaACADEMY) April 20, 2018
This season, the first three stages of the grand tour will take place in Israel in May which also marks the first time this major event has taken place outside the Europe.
“We are happy to say that, for the moment, there is full participation by all the teams. And we anticipate no problems,” Daniel Benaim, a Giro official, said.
According to race organizers, there has been invested a total of 34 million dollars in the three Israeli-based stages. However, a lobby group known as “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” is currently leading a worldwide campaign against the state of Israeli that has now targeted sports besides country’s economy.
Politics vs Sports
Apparently, the main intention of this group is to end Israel’s occupation of the territories of Palestine. A move both the international community and Israel considers illegal and a way to challenge the country.
So far, there are a total of 22 squads who are preparing to become part of the 101st Giro d’Italia event.
The country has taken all the necessary security measures to make the major event go as smooth as possible by carefully choosing the routes and avoiding any territory near east Jerusalem and also the West Bank.
2 weeks left and we will be ready to start! #Giro101 pic.twitter.com/LJTFsREf3P
— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) April 20, 2018
