Quote of the Day: Andy Ram on Dubai

[Sports is] a bridge that connects people, countries, culture, everything, religions, and that's the beauty of it. That's why I decided to go into sports and not politics...I decided it was the right decision to play here and I will come and try to do it again.

- Andy Ram after his Dubai first round loss with partner Kevin Ullyett

Short stay but worth the trip. Good for you Andy.

(image via Getty)

(UPDATED) BREAKING: Andy Ram to receive visa to play in Dubai by UAE

Jonathan Erlich + Andy Ram

Israeli doubles specialist Andy Ram will receive a visa by the United Arab Emirates to play in Dubai, according to Reuters.

Via ESPN.com:

An Israeli men's tennis player will get a visa to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships, a U.S. congressman said on Wednesday, adding that as a result he will not ask the ATP to cancel the event.

In the wake of the Gulf state's denial of a visa for a female Israeli tennis player, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) had scheduled a news conference on Wednesday to press the ATP to withdraw its backing for the tournament, a spokesman for the congressman said.

But Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Washington, has assured Weiner that the men's doubles player, Andy Ram, will be allowed to play in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which starts Monday.

The female player, Shahar Peer, has already missed her event, because the women's open portion began earlier this week.

"Ms. Shahar Peer is a victim of politics over sportsmanship," Weiner said in a statement.

The event is one of the WTA's most prestigious events and attracted additional international attention this year because of the UAE's decision to bar Peer from entering.

That prompted The Wall Street Journal's European edition to withdraw its sponsorship on Tuesday. The Journal's parent company, Dow Jones & Co., is owned by Rupert Murdoch's international media conglomerate News Corp.

The UAE, like most Arab countries, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and routinely denies entry to Israelis.

The tournament's organizers supported the decision to deny Peer a visa, saying local tennis fans would have boycotted the championships if she had been allowed to compete. Peer's presence would have antagonized fans who had watched recent television coverage of Israeli attacks on Gaza, tournament director Salah Tahlak said.

The three-week Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip killed 1,300 Palestinians and 14 Israelis. The attack, which ended in January, sparked outrage in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Israel said it acted in defense of rocket attacks from the Gaza strip.

No word yet from the ATP. I'm more interested, though, to hear the WTA's and Shahar's response to the ATP's successful actions.

In other news, the Sweden vs. Israel Davis Cup tie to be held in the Swedish city of Malmo will be played in an empty arena as a result of planned anti-Israeli demonstrations at Baltic Hall. This sucks.

UPDATE: So the decision may not be finalized just yet according to Doug Robson.

UPDATE #2: The UAE confirmed it was giving Andy "special permission" to play in Dubai, reports The Independent. Let's hope this issue finds a rightful conclusion.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Israeli doubles team defeats Frenchies for title, but share similar celebratory moment

Double your fun: Jonathan Erlich + Andy Ram of Israel won the Australian Open men's doubles title by defeating the French team of Arnaud Clement + Michael Llodra. It seems the Israeli's - who are both rockin' some serious legs - took their post-match celebratory cues from the Frenchies, though.

Uh, we never found doubles very interesting, but we're starting to have second thoughts - and not all about tennis.

(image via AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)