Arab sports council boycotts Adidas over Jerusalem event

[Jazairi 10]

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Arab youth and sports ministers on Wednesday announced their boycott of sports apparel manufacturer Adidas over the company's sponsorship of last month's Jerusalem marathon.

 

"All companies that have sponsored the marathon of Jerusalem, including Adidas, will be boycotted," said Saudi Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, chairman of the Arab youth and sports council of ministers, after a meeting in Jeddah.

 

Prince Nawaf told a press conference the ministers also agreed to organise a separate marathon next year to coincide with the annual Jerusalem event.

 

Entitled "Jerusalem is Ours", that event will take place in cities throughout the Arab world next March.

 

"Israel is trying to misguide public opinion into believing that Jerusalem is its capital and that is a violation of all UN resolutions," added Nawaf.

 

Around 15,000 runners participated in the March 16 International Jerusalem Marathon, which sparked controversy because part of the route passed through Arab east Jerusalem.

 

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the rest of the world.

 

The Jewish state considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital, a claim not recognised by the international community. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state.

 

Copyright © 2012 AFP