The first time Saudi Arabia sent two female athletes – who were accompanied by male guardians and also participated with their hair covered -- to the Olympic Games was in 2012, in London. PHOTO: REUTERS
A consultant for the Saudi Olympic Committee on Thursday said that the Saudi society “can be very conservative. It has a hard time accepting that women can compete in sports.”
Prince Fahad bin Jalawi al Saud, the consultant to the Saudi Olympic Committee, in his comments suggested that the oil-rich country could jointly bid with Bahrain – which could then be a host to women’s events.
“Wearing sports clothing in public is not really allowed. For these cultural reasons, it is difficult to bid for certain big international events," the Prince said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in its recommendations for reform last year, had allowed for joint bids in 2020. However, Saudi Arabia’s suggestion was not permitted.
In a statement released by the IOC president, Thomas Bach, it said the oil-rich country would only be allowed to bid if it followed the rules barring discrimination.
"A commitment to 'non-discrimination' will be mandatory for all countries hoping to bid for the Olympics in the future," the IOC president said.
"This was made very clear in the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms and will even be in the host city contract,” he added.
Bach said the bid would not be admissible if this was not applied, and that Saudi Arabia, and countries like it, should work on permitting female athletes to participate freely.
"You cannot simply 'outsource' certain issues to another territory," he added.
The first time Saudi Arabia sent two female athletes – who were accompanied by male guardians and also participated with their hair covered -- to the Olympic Games was in 2012, in London – due to pressure from the IOC.
However, these athletes were then called out as ‘prostitutes’ by conservatives on social media.
Further, in last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, the country only sent an all-male team. And in December 2014, a woman masquerading as a man at a football game was arrested.
Women in Saudi Arabia are banned from going to sports events, and sports is absent from girls’ curriculum in school.
COMMENTS (22)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732344836-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(37)1732344836-0.jpg "israeli attack targets hospital killing seven medics in lebanon")
@Ch. Allah Daad: Daad Sahib, money can buy many things, I agree with you, but then it can't buy wisdom. The house of Saud is bereft of both.
@sharabi - "i support this demand, Tell me how many watch women tournaments?"
The 'male' or macho games (football, fencing) done by women may not have much viewership. But women athletics, gymnastics, swimming, ping pong, badminton do evoke interest from viewers.
@Tony Singh: But Saudis have money, huge money and money talks.
Jokers! These Saudis really live in mental stone age!!
@Kamran: Just like I can say true Judaism is in israel, true Christianity in vatican city, true hinduism (as a religion not civilization) in India as those are associated for being originator.
First question has no definite answer, but yes if you believe in Caliphs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSRsU8yg8AU
@vinsin:
Tell me if islam permits kingdom? How can u say true islam is in Saudi Arabia???
Why do KSA even want Olympics to be held there? The family owned country should remain within family affair, why to tease the rest of the world?
Saudi society should do more. Much more. It should ban all women. Once women are banned all temptation and all evil will be banned. men will be protected from straying from the right path. They can happily sport their masculinity and participate in sports. Very soon, there will be no men either. Not even kids. This world will be a paradise, God willing.
i support this demand, Tell me how many watch women tournaments?
@vinsin: Good to see atleast somebody is here to defend the true logic. @khan & co: I agree that its not complete Islam which is being portrayed in Saudi Arabia. But thats true that Women has nothing to do with sports and showing it to the world. Even, its forbidden in Islam to simply show your face or speak irrelevant to someone who is Na Mehram to a man or woman (if you are interested, comment after this to know who is your mehram & ne mehram, I will tel you). Islam always teaches equality. If Women are not allowed to show themselves on TV, neither do men are allowed.
I think thats enough for today.
You are out of your mind. What is practiced in Saudi has nothing to do with Islamit. It is amazing how some people think that Saudi represent what Islam is, they are ignorant and they brandish their own version and try to enforce on others. Where in Islam women cannot drive or go out without guardian. Islam does preach to dress modestly and morality but does not ask you to cage them like animals. Their hatered and rigid views has damaged Muslims more than anyone else@vinsin:
The seventh century tribals will be herding camels once oil gets over.
Why dont they just kill all their women and be done with it?
How do they plan to screen gays?
Waiting for the petrol in Saudi Arabia to get over.
@Urwah: Then what you practised was not Islam. In reality or in true sense Islam is what is practiced in Saudi Arabia. Some gulf states have given more rights which are not in Islam.
only saudis and gay men would be watching these Olympics..not sure if they are any difference between both
They may even get their wish......it means that billions of dollars would have to be spent BOTH in the KSA and Bahrain on western engineering / technology to get the infrastructure ready..... and that's big money.
Wow I would hate to live in Saudi Arabia as I'm a woman, it's the worst place for a woman to be. You can't leave your house without a male, can't drive so bye bye social life, you have to look a certain way in public, and being a student and working just seems like a nightmare there after watching documentaries. But women in Pakistan still want us to be like Saudi Arabia. I rather prefer being like Iran than Saudi Arabia! And what really gets on my nerves is men talking about women, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT IS LIKE TO BE A WOMAN so stop dictating us how to be, act, look. For goodness sake from our childhood we have been told 'girls can't do this, cant do that, can't leave the house after a certain age, get educated but only to raise a family, life is husband and kids only, serving your parents in law, that's it, no personal wishes or desires, just a slave for others'. Even more the stuff their conservatives say about women is just mind blogging. This type of extremism is slowly creeping in to Pakistan, for instance, the women danxing at PTI rallies were targeted but the men dancing were given no criticism? Double standards? This extremism has ruined Afghanistan already! And finally, this is not Islam. This is not the Islam I learnt or I practise in my life. God forbid they call this Islam.
"Saudi society can be very conservative. It has a hard time accepting that women can compete in sports.” . Your lucky you were invited to the party - if you don't like the venue then stay at home. Your phobia about women is your problem - try and keep it contained within your borders. World would probably be better off if women ran it .. men haven't been doing such a great job.
LOL!!!