In 2017, five Israeli judokas won medals in Abu Dhabi, including a gold, but tournament organizers refused to play Israel’s national anthem; Israel and the United Arab Emirates do not have diplomatic relations.
The 19 Israeli athletes are scheduled to meet with local Jewish youth and visit the sites of terror attacks against the Jewish community in Buenos Aires.
Alireza Karimi-Mashiani said he had not withdrawn before the tournament because his coaches believed the Israeli competitor would lose in the first round.