Today in the International Herald Tribune:
“If the IOC is pressed to live up to its own standards, the London Games in 2012 should witness the celebration of female Olympians from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and other Muslim countries.”
Countries with men-only Olympic teams include Brunei, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. According to their respective governments, women are barred from Olympic participation for “cultural and religious reasons.”
For some countries, women’s clothing mandated by the conservative interpretation of religion precludes their participation in most sports – for instance, Iran’s female Olympians were limited to pistol- and rifle-shooting at the Barcelona, Sydney and Athens Olympics. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that completely bars women from any sports activity.
Yet there are many predominantly Muslim countries where women are allowed to compete. Susi Susanti became the first Olympic athlete to win a gold medal for Indonesia in badminton, and the majority-Muslim Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union impose no restrictions on female participation. Even Afghanistan sent a female runner to compete in a 100-meter dash in Athens (she competed in long trousers and a short-sleeved top). Algeria’s Hassiba Boulmerka won the 1,500-meter race in 1992 wearing contemporary running shorts