British MP slams Saudi ban on female Olympic athletes

Monday, 27 February 2012 12:20 PM

“Saudi Arabia is clearly breaking the spirit of the Olympic Charter’s pledge to equality.” (AFP/Getty Images)

A senior member of the UK government has accused Saudi Arabia of breaching the spirit of the Olympic Games by refusing to bring a female team to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell, the former culture secretary and Olympics minister, and now a member of the Olympic Board urged the conservative Gulf state to review its attitude towards women and sport.

“[Saudi Arabia is] clearly breaking the spirit of the Olympic Charter’s pledge to equality,” Jowell said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper, adding the London Games would provide “the perfect opportunity” for the country to move forward.

Afghanistan was banned from the 2000 Sydney Olympics over its attitude to women under Taliban rule. While Jowell stopped short of saying the kingdom should be excluded from the games, she called on the Gulf state to demonstrate a commitment to change.

“I would like to see them set out a clear plan for the equal inclusion of women in time for the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro... This has to be a substantive commitment,” she told the UK newspaper.

The International Olympic Committee reserves a limited number of places for athletes who are not required to meet the qualifying standards in swimming and athletics events, but Saudi Arabia has never sponsored a female team.

Human Rights Watch earlier in the month criticised Olympic organisers for their tolerance of gender discrimination by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei, all of which have never sent a female to participate in an Olympic Games.

“The fact that women and girls cannot train to compete clearly violates the Olympic Charter's pledge to equality and gives the Olympic movement itself a black eye,” Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement, referring specifically to Saudi Arabia.

“’No women allowed,’ is the kingdom's message to Saudi women and girls who want to play sports,” he added.

Saudi Arabia closed private gyms for women in 2009 and 2010 and severely limits their ability to undertake physical activity, said Human Rights Watch.

Join the Discussion

Disclaimer:The view expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by Arabian Business, its employees, sponsors or its advertisers.

Please post responsibly. Commenter Rules

Read All 35 Comments

Posted by: Saudi Engineer Friday, 2 March 2012 2:52 PM[UAE] - Saudi Arabia

Peaceful Islam,
Regarding article 2 of the UN charter, I'd like you to refer to my original comment. Does article 2 mean that as men go to the beach in only shorts - with no top - that women should be able to do the same? Some countries in Europe allow topless sunbathing, but most countries do not. Should we allow women to walk topless in public wherever they please? And by "we" I don't mean KSA only, I mean the world as a whole. After all, according to the UN charter, and article 2 (to which I'm sure your country is a member) there should be no discrimination.
What do you think?

Posted by: Saudi Engineer Saturday, 3 March 2012 12:34 AM[UAE] - Saudi Arabia

Dear PI,
I believe I've explained quite well what I meant by "we" so once again I urge you to read the comment and try to understand. And yes, we includes men, women and everything else in between.
Which leads me to think you're not getting my point - I'm starting to doubt you're even reading my comments. I'm not worried about Jeddah's beaches or anyone else's beaches - and as you rightly stated, that's up to the government's of individual countries to decide. Which is exactly my point!!! Each country and each government can do as they please, as long as they are respecting general human rights. I don't think going to the olympics is a general human right.
Human rights are things that the US and Europe are disrespecting everyday. I don't think I have to mention things like Guantanamo, and secret jails and renditions, torture of terror suspects etc. So everyone claiming the west respects human rights get off your high horses. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Posted by: Peaceful Islam Friday, 2 March 2012 9:46 PM[UAE] - uae

@S.E.
A little obsession with the subject ? :-)

Allowing women to participate at the Olympic games will not lead to topless women showing up at Jeddah's beaches. Don't worry.

You write "Should we allow women" and you refer to "the world as a whole". Does that "we" include women? or do you mean "men only" ?

There is nothing that men would have to allow women.
Governments of countries define via standard processes and procedures the relevant laws and regulations - which are valid and binding for women and men in the same country. A UN Member state violating the mandate of equality (rights, dignity) will consistently be requested to adjust its legal system to comply with the UN charter.

Regarding countries in Europe or elsewhere that allow nudity at beaches or topless sunbathing - this is a matter of concern for the citizens of these countries. If laws permit so be it. It's about their laws - not my views.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Sandpiper Friday, 2 March 2012 2:12 PM[UAE] - UAE

It is for Saudi Men, and not British politicians to decide what their women can and can not too. Mind your own business.

Posted by: Doug Friday, 2 March 2012 7:15 PM[UAE] - UAE

'Their' women....sheesh
Shouldn't it be for Saudi women to decide what they can and can't do?

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Money Tennis Friday, 2 March 2012 1:50 AM[UAE] - Uae

I feel sorry for the other atheletes - what a hollow victory it will be for the Gold Medallists knowing they never had to compete against the powerhouse sporting nation that is Saudi Arabia.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Doug Thursday, 1 March 2012 7:52 PM[UAE] - UAE

Here's something people should bear in mind about the Olympics.

Read the Olympic Charter, available on IOC's website. I refer you all to item 4 of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism:

"The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."

Forbidding women to participate is a violation of this Fundamental Principle. Countries that are not prepared to uphold the Fundamental Principles MUST be excluded from participating in the Olympics. This has happened before, notably with South Africa during the Apartheid era.

If the KSA is not prepared to comply with the contracted Olympic values, they should be denied the right to compete - as should any other country that violates the Fundamental Principles. Don't like it? Then don't join in.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: British Expat Thursday, 1 March 2012 6:13 PM[UAE] - UK

There shoould be clear requirements for participation into Olympics, including gender equality etc.... and if there are countries who dont comply to these requirements, then they should not be allowed to participate in it. That should be applicable regardless of religion, race, colour or how rich that country is.

Posted by: Doug Thursday, 1 March 2012 7:53 PM[UAE] - UAE

There ARE clear requirements.

From the Olympic Charter:

Article 4: The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind.

Article 6: Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.

Article 7: Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.

Saudi Arabia is more than welcome to hold on to its belief that its women should not be allowed to compete in sport. But if it wants to hold onto this belief, then it is not legally allowed to participate in the Olympics. This is about contracts, not moral relativism.

KSA has broken the contract, ergo it must be banned from the Olympics. End of discussion.