London: Saudi Arabia, the only major nation to ban women athletes from its national Olympics team, has apparently reversed course amid international pressure on Sunday, saying that qualifying Saudi female athletes could compete in London under the auspices of the Saudi Olympic Committee, media reported on Sunday.
According to reports, the Saudi Embassy in London said that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is looking forward to full participation in the Olympic Games.
“The Saudi Olympic Committee will oversee participation of female competitors who qualify.”
The announcement opens the way for Saudi women athletes to compete for the first time in the history of the adult Olympic Games.
The concession also marks a rare official broadening of the rights granted to women in one of the world’s most conservative nations. Women in Saudi Arabia are forbidden to hold Saudi driver’s licenses.
The country’s conservative religious bloc discourages women’s sports and women’s gyms, and the relatively few women’s sports teams in the country typically can’t compete before mixed public crowds of men and women.
But with the London Olympic Games due to start within weeks, only one female Saudi athlete, show-jumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas, is generally considered to be trained and ready to compete at the level of the Olympics.
Ms. Malhas in 2010 became the first Saudi woman to compete in the Youth Olympics, where she won a bronze.
Saudi officials had given mixed signals in the run-up to the London Games as to whether women would be allowed to compete, and in what capacity. Saudi newspapers in April quoted the head of the country’s Olympic Committee as saying Saudi women could participate individually, rather than as part of the country’s Olympic team.
Saudi King Abdullah, the country’s monarch since 2005, has spoken supportively of giving women the right to drive, vote and serve in the country’s advisory Shoura Council. Saudis often cite pressure from the nation’s religious clerics and their followers as keeping the king from moving more quickly on expanding women’s rights.
Some campaigners outside the kingdom had urged that Saudi Arabia be banned from the Games until it allowed Saudi women athletes to compete.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription