“Our society has a hard time accepting that women can compete in sports.”
In a shocking admission from the Saudi Arabian Prince Fahad bin Jalawi al-Saud, the nation may try to bid for a men-only Olympics, according to the Sun.
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It is thought that Saudi Arabia would try to make a joint bid with neighbouring country Bahrain, who would host the women’s events, with Saudi Arabia only sending their first female athlete to compete in the Olympics for the first time in the 2012 games in London.
Fahad bin Jalawi al-Saud admits that many in the country could have a hard time accepting a large number of women competing in sporting events, with many still holding very conservative views.
“Our society can be very conservative,” he said. “It has a hard time accepting that women can compete in sports.
“We could envisage a joint bid. Bahrain would hold the women’s events, we would hold the men’s competitions.”
However, their chances of winning the bid look slim after IOC president Thomas Bach urged them to work on allowing the participation of women at the events.
“A commitment to ‘non-discrimination’ will be mandatory for all countries hoping to bid for the Olympics in the future,” he said.
“If this is not applied, the bid would not be admissible.
“Countries like Saudi Arabia must really work to allow female athletes to freely participate.”
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