Though it’s long overdue, this week we can celebrate the announcement that, after years of international pressure, Saudi Arabia will most likely send female athletes to the 2012 Olympic games in London. Furthermore, a female Saudi Arabian sports commentator, Reema Abdullah, revealed that she’ll get to carry the Olympic torch. Saudi Arabia, which has never sent women to the Olympics, met with the International Olympics Committee (IOC) last week to present a list of potential female athletes. The athletes will be assessed by the IOC, and their participation will be discussed at their next meeting in May.
ESPN stated that the Crown Prince Nayef has agreed to allow female athletes to join the games as long as they participate in sports that “meet the standards of women’s decency and don’t contradict Islamic laws.” Does this mean we’ll be seeing female boxers in hijabs this year? Stay tuned…
