A female Saudi Arabia fighter will take part in the Olympic judo competition after being allowed to wear an Islamic headscarf, or hijab, of a specific design.
Saudi Arabia’s Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani is one of only 2 Saudi women to travel to London after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lobbied the conservative Islamic kingdom to end its refusal to send women to the London Olympic Games.But Saudi fighter had said she would only compete if she was allowed to wear the hijab, and judo officials refused, saying it would be dangerous.
A Saudi National Olympic Committee spokeswoman officially said, the IOC and the International Judo Federation had now agreed on an acceptable form for the headscarf.
London Olympic 2012 breaks new rules for Saudi Arabia women / London Olympic News
Saudi Arabia’s Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani had gestured all the London Olympic fans as she walks with the contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium.
Judo Olympic competitor Abdulrahim Shaherkani had signed an agreement with Saudi Olympics officials that she could compete only if she wears ‘ correct and approved ‘ clothing that sticks to Islamic principles.
This year is the first time every nation competing in the Olympics is sending women as well as men. Saudi Arabia was the last country to announce that it would send female athletes.
The IOC this year successfully pressed Saudi Arabia and fellow Muslim nations Qatar and Brunei, the last 3 countries to refuse to send women to the London Olympics, to end their bans.
Saudi women allowed to compete in hijab during London Olympic Games
The Saudi Arabia decision to send London fighter Shaherkani and teenage 800-metre runner Sarah Attar was praised by IOC President Jacques Rogge at the time. Shaherkani is due to compete in the heavyweight category +78 kg on Friday this week.
The IJF’s regulations for the London Olympic Games 2012 state that no headgear can be worn, and the federation has told there could be a danger to fighters if a hijab is inadvertently used for an otherwise legal strangulation grip.
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