Sustained public pressure has finally produced results. British Wheelchair Basketball has issued a formal apology to Israel's national wheelchair basketball team and to the Israeli Paralympic Committee, after members of the British squad staged a protest while the Israeli anthem played at last month's Nations Cup in Cologne.
That apology was dated 29 August and slipped onto the organisation's website with no fanfare. It surfaced only once campaigners pushed for answers and the Great British PAC began making direct inquiries.
The published statement reads:
“British Wheelchair Basketball has apologised to the Israeli National Wheelchair Basketball team and the Israeli Paralympic Committee following the incident during the Israeli national anthem at the Nations Cup on 16 August.
“The team acted in a manner that is inconsistent with our code of conduct and we regret any distress caused. We are continuing discussions internally and externally. We are committed to ensuring that all participants in our sport are treated with respect.”
The episode at the centre of all this saw British players turn their backs as Israel's anthem, Hatikvah, was played ahead of a fixture in Cologne. Critics across a range of organisations and individuals branded the gesture inappropriate and openly political.
Among the most prominent voices was our own. The Great British PAC condemned the stunt in a statement on 24 August that was shared far and wide.
Writing on social media in a post that gathered more than 16,000 likes, our campaign said:
“What an embarrassment our British Wheelchair Basketball team are. They turned backs during the Israeli national anthem. We fund them £4,925,000 to compete with dignity, NOT to insult, embarrass, and undermine.”
That post carried a letter to the British Wheelchair Basketball Team and its governing body from Claire Bullivant, CEO of the Great British PAC. She voiced “utter disbelief and disappointment,” described the protest as “a clumsy, ill-informed political gesture,” and wrote:
“How dare you use the generosity of the British taxpayer to indulge in virtue-signalling stunts that bring shame to our nation and distress to your fellow athletes? Your actions are beneath the standards we expect from those privileged enough to wear the flag.”
Bullivant's letter demanded a public apology and warned that, absent one, the team's continued public funding ought to be “seriously reconsidered.” British Wheelchair Basketball draws £4,925,000 in taxpayer money through UK Sport across the Paralympic cycle running up to Los Angeles 2028.
UK Sport responds to the email warriors
Once a coordinated wave of complaints from Great British PAC email warriors, led by Caroline Smith, reached UK Sport, the body started replying to people individually, confirming the apology existed and directing them to the statement on the governing body's site.
In an emailed reply shared with The Post, UK Sport stated:
“Thank you for contacting UK Sport. British Wheelchair Basketball, who are responsible for the actions of the team and athletes, have taken the matter very seriously. They have apologised publicly for the action the team took. We recognise that athletes may hold strong views about global affairs. However, they are expected to respect the rules of international competition, including around conduct on the field of play.”
Although the protest itself took place on 16 August, no apology was made public at the time. The matter stayed buried until grassroots campaigners forced direct correspondence with UK Sport, which eventually brought the quietly posted 29 August statement to light.
Whether the British Wheelchair Basketball governing body intends to say anything further beyond its published statement is not yet known. They have been approached for comment.