Peer’s sorrow may have brought wider gain
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 23, 2009 00:00
DUBAI - Shahar Peer's pain while fighting her exclusion from the UAE, and her grace in accepting the resolution of the controversy which has surrounded Israeli visas, may have brought long-lasting wider gains.
So says Larry Scott, the chief executive of the Women's Tennis Association, who has fought for redress for Peer after the player was denied a visa to be allowed to compete in last week's women's Dubai Open.
Scott emphasised that Peer's struggle has not just brought the change of policy which will enable another Israeli, Andy Ram, to compete in this week's men's Dubai Open, and not just brought an opportunity for her to earn future money and ranking points, but may help sport and culture in general.
"It could be a silver lining if somehow it represents a step forward in respect for the role of sport separate from politics or if it helps prevents sport being used as a political tool," Scott said. "That's something to feel good about, but it will always be a shame that Shahar Peer had to suffer to achieve it."
Scott confirmed that from the moment the Dubai Open made a statement last Tuesday that security issues after the recent Gaza conflict had caused the visa refusal, the rules of the WTA Tour had been broken.
"The security issues are not a justifiable explanation from my standpoint, in that way," Scott added. "Don't forget Shahar Peer played in Doha, so nothing in that report suggested she would be unsafe, assuming appropriate security put in place."
This became the basis of the $ 300,000 fine imposed upon the Dubai Open, which the WTA Tour confirmed is the largest penalty it has ever invoked.
Scott emphasised that Peer's struggle has not just brought the change of policy which will enable another Israeli, Andy Ram, to compete in this week's men's Dubai Open, and not just brought an opportunity for her to earn future money and ranking points, but may help sport and culture in general.
"It could be a silver lining if somehow it represents a step forward in respect for the role of sport separate from politics or if it helps prevents sport being used as a political tool," Scott said. "That's something to feel good about, but it will always be a shame that Shahar Peer had to suffer to achieve it."
Scott confirmed that from the moment the Dubai Open made a statement last Tuesday that security issues after the recent Gaza conflict had caused the visa refusal, the rules of the WTA Tour had been broken.
"The security issues are not a justifiable explanation from my standpoint, in that way," Scott added. "Don't forget Shahar Peer played in Doha, so nothing in that report suggested she would be unsafe, assuming appropriate security put in place."
This became the basis of the $ 300,000 fine imposed upon the Dubai Open, which the WTA Tour confirmed is the largest penalty it has ever invoked.