Saudi Arabia allows qualifying female athletes to take part in the 2012 Olympics

Holly Peacock
WVoN co-editor 

Until last week, Saudi Arabia was the only major nation to ban female athletes from their Olympic teams.

However, the BBC has now reported that its Olympic Committee will “oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify”.

Despite the apparent U-turn, it seems that none will qualify as the only hopeful – equestrian jumper Dalma Malhas – is unlikely to attend because her horse has been injured, according to the Guardian.

Due to lack of provision and a clear, intentional restriction of women’s access to physical activity (Saudi’s regime actually closed private gyms for women in 2009 and 2010) , the ban was only lifted after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced calls to ban the country from the games altogether.

Protestors demanded a ban on the basis that Saudi’s existing gender discrimination conflicted with the core principles of the IOC.

Although there is still a long way to go for gender equality in Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, the country’s monarch since 2005, has spoken supportively in the past about giving women the right to drive, vote and serve in the country’s advisory Shoura Council.

A senior Saudi official told the BBC that “King Abdullah is trying to initiate reform in a subtle way, by finding the right balance between going too fast or too slow.

“For example, he allowed the participation of women in the Shura council [an advisory body] so the Olympic decision is part of an ongoing process, it’s not isolated.”