Norwegian women's beach handball team fined for not playing in bikinis

[riversedge]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Spazito (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: nbc news



While male players are allowed to play in tank tops and shorts, women are required to wear bikini bottoms “with a close fit and cut on an upward angle.”


July 20, 2021, 9:23 AM CDT By Caroline Radnofsky

The Norwegian women’s beach handball team has been fined for refusing to play in bikini bottoms during a game in the sport’s Euro 2021 tournament.

The team wore thigh-length elastic shorts during their bronze medal match against Spain in Bulgaria on Sunday to protest against the regulation bikini-bottom design that the sport's Norwegian federation president called “embarrassing.”

The team was fined 1,500 euros total ($1,700) for “improper clothing,” according to a statement from the European Handball Association's Disciplinary Commission.

While male players are allowed to play in tank tops and shorts no longer than 4 inches above the knee, women are required to wear midriff-baring tops and bikini bottoms “with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg” and a maximum side width of 4 inches, according to International Handball Federation regulations................................

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/norwegian-womens-beach-handball-team-fined-not-playing-bikinis-n1274453?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

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whow. just whow. I think the team has a point.



https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-2000w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2021_29/3492563/210720-norway-beach-handball-mn-1050.jpg
Norway's Maren Aardahl, right, and Greece's Ntafina Dimitri during the 2018 Women's Beach Handball World Championships final match in Kazan, Russia.Maxim Tumanov / Sputnik via AP

Link to tweet

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Link to tweet

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[TreasonousBastard]

1. They measure butt coverage?

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Nice work if you can get it

[Chainfire]

2. Would you guess that it was men who wrote the policy?

The rule is absurd and blatantly sexist.

[riversedge]

5. Hard to believe it is 2021 with that sexist policy.

[LiberatedUSA]

13. We still have beauty pageants.

Once they go, then maybe we will be on a path to change.

[riversedge]

15. Somehow it is different. This is a sports event--not a beauty pageant. IMHO

[whathehell]

47. Correct -- It's a sports event, not a beauty pageant. n/t.

[NullTuples]

48. Either way, it still comes down to ratings, clicks, views, etc.

[Vdizzle]

54. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

Obviously those who wrote and/or enforce this dumb rule ‘behold’ that bikinis are necessary. Absurd and totally sexist.

[jimfields33]

6. Really strange that some put Norway on some pedestal as an

example of a great country. Obviously the greatness was overstated by a mile.

[ZZenith]

8. Why?

It’s the Norwegians who are protesting the clothing policy. Did you misunderstand the situation or do you think the women should be forced to wear next to nothing?

Very strange response from you.

[jimfields33]

10. I think women should protest

I’m just saying that some think Norway is a wonderful example of great country. I’m just pointing out it’s not.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

17. It's the EC tournament officials pushing this, not the Norwegians.

By the way, the United Nations Human Development Index has ranked Norway number one for six consecutive years. They enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.

[FreeState]

42. That still doesn't make any sense at all

If anything this shows Norway as progressive and anti-sexist.

[Skittles]

45. LOL

you are trying WAY TOO HARD

[JI7]

77. +

[ForgoTheConsequence]

49. Just admit you didn't actually read the thread and walk away, slowly.

You embarrassed yourself.

[Vdizzle]

55. I'm struggling to find your point. What do your statements have to do with the clothing worn?

[Ace Rothstein]

9. I don't think Norway is to blame here.

The Norwegians bucked the tournament rules. There is probably some handball federation similar to FIFA for soccer or the IIHF for ice hockey who came up with these rules. The Norwegian federation paid the fine for the team per the tweet.

[IronLionZion]

18. It sounds like Norway is supporting the women

it's the International Handball Federation set the clothing rules and the European Handball Association fined the team during the Euro 2021 tournament.

It can be easy to misunderstand the situation considering that several governing organizations are involved. Norway sounds pretty awesome. I'd love to visit.

[zuul]

29. Um, what?

This makes no sense.

[Iggo]

38. Whaddaya got against Norway? Did you even read the story?

The women are from Norway. The Norway sports group is backing them. It’s the European sports group that’s punishing the team from Norway for standing up for the right thing.

You don’t like Norway, that’s fine. But at least get it right.

[HuskyOffset]

52. My radar . . .

. . . is detecting a closet anti-fjordist. Just go ahead and say: you hate fjords

Seriously though, I’m scratching my head trying figure out what Norway did wrong here.

[niyad]

74. Reading comprehension is your friend.

[Mr. Evil]

71. Of course. That's how they get men to watch and improve ratings.

Always the ratings.

[Probatim]

73. I said this last month - 21st century tech to train them - 18th century rules to govern them.

[XanaDUer2]

4. Wow nt

[napi21]

7. It's BS that this is even IN the regs! What the hell. Does it help them play better? I doubt it.

It's obviously for the benefit of the males in the judges box & the audience. If I had the bucks, I'd pay their fine & tell them to do what they WANT to do.

[Iggo]

39. I assume the theory is that it sells tickets.

Might even be true, but so what. This ain’t the lingerie bowl.

[tirebiter]

11. Rules is rules

Just like with Sha'Carri Richardson and weed.

Women Volleyball players locally play through the winter on the beach in bikinis in all kinds of weather. They are militant about it

[SharonClark]

19. It's not the same.

The outfits are sexist and the team is protesting unequal rules based on gender.

[pnwmom]

23. Obviously they aren't ALL in favor of the bikinis. And this rule has no rational basis.

And it's obvious sex discrimination.

[Iggo]

40. Jeez.

It is sooooo not the same thing.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

51. "Rules is rules"

Said the segregationists, apartheidists, and anti-suffragists.

[Ford_Prefect]

59. The Norwegian association has been arguing to change the rule since 2006.

They play and practice in the shorts shown when they are in Norway. It is only when they are playing in the international tournament games that they are subject to that rule.

The whole playing in bikinis rule exists purely to sell more beer in the pub, and get more TV coverage, otherwise the league would have settled this long ago.

[Metatron]

12. Hopefully, they will appeal it to CAS and get it overturned.

[TomWilm]

14. Why not demanding see through bikinis? Too obvious?

[regnaD kciN]

26. Don't give them any ideas...

[IronLionZion]

32. Birthday suits like the original Greek olympics

[erronis]

56. That's where the term "gymnastics" came from. "Bare athletics". Gym Jordan?

Not so much

[riversedge]

16. "Same issue with gymnastics - massive pushback from the governing bodies over full length leotards,

Same issue with gymnastics - massive pushback from the governing bodies over full length leotards, when they have zero impact on performance, and men wear shorts &/or trousers to compete

Link to tweet

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[ShazzieB]

44. I SO agree about the gymnastics.

I hate this beach volleyball thing, but it's new to me. The gymnastics leotards have bothered me for years. The fact that some of those girls are so young they're barely postpubescent makes it even worse.

Using women athletes to provide titillation for men is absolutely disgusting and runs completely counter to the purpose of a women's sports competition.

[Midnight Writer]

20. I hope a Men's Team comes out in bikini bottoms.

[forgotmylogin]

70. Speedos required!

To be honest, the Norwegian team's shorts actually look much better at keeping that god-awful sand out of crevices.

If the rules require those bikinis, could they just wear them over the shorts? Kinda how we wore required gym shorts over sweats Goonies-style in PE when it was cold because then the teacher didn't have to ask if we were dressed-out correctly.

[Shipwack]

21. Meanwhile, in track and field, a contestant is criticized for...

...shorts being too short.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/olivia-breen-shorts-paralympic-official-inappropriate/

[Kali]

41. that article came to my mind too

personally I would go for minimal clothing, but why not just let the teams decide?

[3catwoman3]

58. Her shorts do not look ANY...

…different from the beach bikini bottoms. Even if my butt looked as good as those of most of these female Olympians, I would not want to have it hanging out of my uniform. Especially not if dictated to ny a group of men. Let them insist that the men play in speedos.

This is all complete bullshit.

[yonder]

22. Good on them

bra på dem

[FreeState]

43. +1

Plus ett, bra for dem

[Aussie105]

24. Wear what you are comfortable in, girls!

And stuff the sexist rules.

Time they changed.

As a self confessed drooler over the girls' events for the skin on display, I have to say . . . blatant sexism like this needs reacting to.

Wear what you are comfortable in, it's your athletic skills on display, not your skin.

(Yes, I'm prepared to give up my drooling.)

[niyad]

28. They are women, not girls.

[Aussie105]

62. I am male, white and 72.

Any female younger than me is a girl.

At a guess, these athletes are younger than me.

Perspective is everything.
Just my use of language, no disrespect intended.

[niyad]

72. No disrespect intended, but it is there. I am younger than you, but I am NOT a girl.

"A girl is a female CHILD. To accept being called a girl is to accept being treated as a child." From the Women's Movement of the 60's and 70's.

[JenniferJuniper]

78. +1000

Back in the office I worked in during the late 1980's a customer referred to one of the female employees as a "girl". A fellow worker, a woman probably about 60, jumped up and said "Sir, I assure you, we do not have any children working here!"

[niyad]

81. good for her!

[Warpy]

25. Are they athletes or just pieces of meat to be graded and drooled over by men?

This is a valid question.

They'd freeze to death in a lot of Norway in that kind of getup.

[Aussie105]

65. Seems it's that way.

Eye candy! Yes, I like, no, it's not appropriate that the female competitors in this sport are set up to be visually like that if it's against their wishes - which it would be, for most, I imagine.

From the viewpoint of the competitors - aren't those bikini bottoms a worry? Constant question on their minds, I imagine, am I decent or showing more than I'm comfortable with?

[Warpy]

67. Not to mention haing their pubic hair pulled out by the roots

via bikini waxing. That's OK for women who want to wear that shit, but athletes should be given the option of wearing shorts.

[niyad]

27. and the WAR ON WOMEN. continues apace. Would you consider cross-posting this in

Women's Rights And Issues? Thanks in advance.

[Rural_Progressive]

30. And yet another reason I'm grateful my daughter chose to play soccer at a very high level

cause if you're looking to perv at a woman athlete, watching the goalkeeper just isn't going to get your freak show going.

[Jon King]

31. What the tournaments sponsors are saying is no bikinis, no revenue...

Look in the stands of the paying customers, all leering guys. So basically the sponsors are saying if they don't wear bikinis, the fans don't come, the sport dies.

These women have to do what is comfortable for them....however its a real possibility that their sport will die off. In that case they would have to play for fun at the beach and wait for the Olympics every 4 years.

Not saying its right, just reality.

[Traildogbob]

33. What a crock!

The athletes should have the choice. Always felt bad for the women with sand getting in places that can cause rashes in the heat. Mandating that wear by men is so GQP of em. Like a post above. Men should come out in “support” with colorful jock straps only. With no manscaping.

[keithbvadu2]

34. Let Rudy G be the judge

Remember Rudy and his commentary on the lady golf pro's undies?

[Thunderbeast]

35. I also think the sport would gain it's well-earned legitimacy

if they stopped playing the snippets of loud metal music between each volley.

It is a great sport. They don't need the distractions.

[trof]

36. I'm pretty sure "beach handball" isn't a thing.

[sarisataka]

63. There are sports that are popular

Outside of the US

Beach handball is a team sport where two teams pass and bounce or roll a ball, trying to throw it in the goal of the opposing team. The game is similar to standard handball, but it is played on sand instead of on a solid floor. Matches are played as best two-out-of-three sets.

I have been a fan of team handball for years although haven't watched the beach version

[Dr. Strange]

64. Time for schoolin'!

[FakeNoose]

37. Fair's fair - make the MEN wear bikinis too

[TygrBright]

46. I did not know "Beach Handball" was a sport. n/t

[DinahMoeHum]

50. What dumb-ass fuckery. Misogynist pigs.

They won't be satisfied until sponsors can put their logos on all four of an athlete's cheeks.

[Gore1FL]

53. I imagine they have a lot of $1,700. nt

[jeffreyi]

57. To hell with 'em.

[elleng]

60. DAMN!

WHOse f'in idea was THIS?

[appmanga]

61. Things do need to change...

...not just here, but in women's gymnastics. There's no athletic reason for women to have to wear an an outfit that barely covers, and accentuates, their butts and vaginas. It's exploitative and if it were important to the activities, men would voluntarily wearing the same type of clothes. It's 2021, and it's long past time for a change away from this.

[Sparky 1]

66. What we need is a globally published address and phone

It might drag them into the present if all the women and men who love women in the world contacted them to object.

[sarisataka]

68. In about every sport women's uniforms

Are more revealing or form fitting than men's in the same sport.

The only sports I can think of where women wear more than men are swimming/ diving

[LiberalFighter]

69. Need to identify the people in the organization responsible for the stupid rule.

[Lithos]

75. I am not a prude

But to be honest, when they wear bikinis the sport is unwatchable as i'm too embarrassed for these athletes who have to be turned into an exhibition.

The difference between the two pictures is astounding. The picture above of them in their uniform OF CHOICE shows very confident athletes - something which I think is far more attractive and compelling. Love their strength and love their attitude.

L-

[relayerbob]

76. What the actual fuck?

No wonder the (former) IOC President didn't want women to talk in meetings.

[Shellback Squid]

79. and I thought it was for ease of motion or some legal performance enhancements

I rarely watch the Olympics

[MustLoveBeagles]

80. Good for them

This rule is stupid anyway.

[Spazito]

82. *LOCKING*

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