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The event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Disney and is organized by the International Cheer Union.
By Shula Rosen
Israel is set to take part in the 2026 Cheerleading World Championships in Orlando, US, from April 22 to April 24, marking its first appearance in the competition. At the same time, it has voted to include the Iranian team in the Cheer Union.
The event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Disney and is organized by the International Cheer Union.
The Israeli delegation will include three teams: an 18-member group of athletes aged 12 to 14 competing in the POM category, along with two doubles pairs teams seeking to advance to the finals.
The national program, established three years ago, has grown to include about 15 clubs and hundreds of athletes and is recognized by both the International Cheer Union and the European Cheer Union.
Ludmila Yasinskaya-Demari, team manager and founder of the organization, said told the Jerusalem Post: “The very first participation of Israel’s national team in a Cheerleading World Championship is a significant moment, especially during such a challenging time for Israeli society.”
At the same time, Israel’s delegation took part in the International Cheer Union’s annual conference in Orlando, where it voted in favor of admitting Iran to the organization.
The decision was approved following a vote that included five applicant countries: Iran, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Iceland, and Sint Maarten.
Dr. Demari supported Iran’s admission during the proceedings.
“We represent sport here, not politics. This union was established to connect peoples through excellence, discipline, and joint work. Precisely in a complex reality, there is value in allowing a shared professional framework, where competitors face each other on the mat and not in other arenas,” she said.
The qualification rounds of the championship are set to determine whether Israel advances to the semifinals.
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