Saudi women at Games a sham

[UnrepentantLiberal]

By Jocelyne Cesari
CNN
August 1, 2012

For the first time, Saudi Arabia sent two women to the Olympics -- Wojdan Shaherkani and Sarah Attar, who will compete in judo and track and field. But their participation is far from a groundbreaking step for Saudi women.

It was touch and go whether one of the Saudi women, Shaherkani, would even participate this year when the president of the International Federation of Judo said women wearing headscarves would not be allowed to compete for fear of choking and injury. The issue has been resolved and she will participate in a form of headgear that complies with Saudi's strict Islamic dress codes for women.

But if Shaherkani had withdrawn, it would not have been a setback for Saudi women because her inclusion was not a sign of advancement. The presence of Saudi women is the result of several months of pressure by the International Olympics Committee on Saudi Arabia to include women competitors or face being banned from participation.

The situation for female athletes in Saudi Arabia is bleak. Saudi women in general are denied the right to practice sports. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prevents girls from taking part in sports in government schools. Physical education is allowed only in private schools. Women are not allowed to play in official sports clubs or even watch matches in stadiums. Girls' football, volleyball and basketball games in private schools and colleges are held secretly.

More: http://us.cnn.com/2012/08/01/opinion/cesari-saudi-women-sports/index.html?iref=obinsite

[Bonobo]

1. Furthermore...

I read that if the judo athlete was not going to be able to wear her hajib headgear, her FATHER was going to pull her out.

Her FATHER? Wait a minute, an olympic athlete has her fate decided by her father? what is wrong with that picture?

[Marrah_G]

2. Women there and in a few other countries have little to no say in their lives.

It should be a huge issue to the rest of the human beings on Earth, but sadly it is not. The world looks the other way for the sake of oil.

[bhikkhu]

3. Saudi culture needs to evolve

they must realize they look like a bunch of boneheaded clowns to the rest of the world? That's not directed at the women at all (the men should be ashamed!) - but it takes two to tango, as they say. I hope this olympics starts some real conversations there.

[Care Acutely]

4. But one of them is being tangoed upon

You can't dance with a man standing on your back and a knife at your throat.

[bhikkhu]

5. Equal rights have been a struggle everywhere they have been won

...and it all starts with conversations within families and between people. Easy for me to say, I know, not being a Saudi woman, and being on the other side of the planet. But women's rights weren't a cakewalk here, and ending segregation was a long battle - both well worth the fight.

I'd like to think that one's stupidities are most readily corrected when they have just recently been put on public display.