4) Egypt’s Islam El Shehaby refuses to shake hand of Israel’s Or Sasson
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Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby fought Israel’s Or Sasson in a judo match in the Round of 32 and controversy struck soon after the Israeli won the match. El Shehaby refused to shake hands with Sasson when the Israeli approached him and the incident saw the crowd boo him as he backed away.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) immediately opened a disciplinary commission and soon sent him home. But there is more to the story than meets the eye.
While it was not a personal animosity with the Israeli that led to the refusal to shake hands, it was to do with the political history between Egypt and Israel.
“Shaking the hand of your opponent is not an obligation written in the judo rules,” El Shehaby said. :It happens between friends and he’s not my friend.
“I have no problem with Jewish people or any other religion or different beliefs. But for personal reasons, you can’t ask me to shake the hand of anyone from this State, especially in front of the whole world.”
The Egyptian himself was under pressure from fans on social media who asked him to not show up for the match as it would shame Islam if he fought an Israeli. Even his brother confirmed that it was nothing personal, saying: “This is something driven perhaps by the Egyptian people, by the Egyptian regime, but it does not look to me like something personal.”
