The war in the Middle East also affected sports. The tournament in Abu Dhabi was canceled

On Saturday, February 28, the United States and Israel attacked Iran, unleashing the most serious conflict in the Middle East in a long time. Tehran, in response to the shelling of strategic targets and the killing of spiritual leader Ali Khamenei, attacked American military bases in neighboring countries. Missiles also fell on airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the port of Jabal Ali and luxury resorts.

War in the Middle East. The basketball tournament was canceled

There was an air paralysis in the Persian Gulf region. Aircraft traffic was suspended, among others, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Thousands of travelers were stranded at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s most important transfer points.

The uncertain situation also affected the world of sports. On February 28, it was announced that the NextGen qualifying tournament had been suspended
for precautionary reasons. The first announcement from the basketball Euroleague emphasized that the situation was being assessed and told to wait for further announcements.

The next message regarding the youth tournament appeared on the same day. Euroleague announced the cancellation of the competition. “Due to the current situation in the region, a decision has been made to guarantee the safety of all participants. After careful analysis and ongoing consultations with the relevant authorities and interested parties, it was decided that canceling the event is the most responsible action at this time,” we read.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the situation of Poles in the Middle East

During the press conference, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefly discussed the situation in the region in the context of Poles staying in the Middle East. – There is no information that any Polish citizen suffered in the Middle East in connection with military operations – he noted. Maciej Wewiór added that “all organized tourist groups from Israel, approximately 200 people, left the country by land and were picked up by employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Egypt.” Poles also leave Jordan by air and ferry.

– The situation is slightly different on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, near the Persian Gulf. There, it is safest to stay where you are, in places of refuge. Missiles and drones are still flying there, and their shot down remains are falling to the ground, military bases are being attacked, and sometimes there are main arteries next to them, so we ask you to especially listen to the recommendations of the local security services there, Wewiór said.