Spain’s most prestigious cycling race, La Vuelta a España, descended into chaos as over 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with 1,000 police in Madrid, forcing the finale to be abandoned. The protests erupted over the participation of an Israeli tech team, leaving 22 officers injured and the race unfinished. With Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez openly praising the demonstrations, Israel has accused Spain of fuelling unrest. This controversy isn’t limited to cycling—Israeli chess players were also forced out of a Spanish tournament after being told they couldn’t compete under their national flag. Has global sport become a hostage to politics? And is this the new reality for international competitions? Prathik S Vinod with details. See More
