2024 Olympic Games and veil ban: the debate grows in France!
As France’s preparations to host the 2024 Olympics continue, new bans imposed by the government on athletes are affecting the atmosphere of the Olympics. Muslims, who make up about 10 percent of the country’s population, face a headscarf ban ahead of the Olympics set to begin on July 26, 2024.
The French Minister of Sports, Amelie Oudea-Castera, stated in a program she attended that “no woman in her country’s delegation will be able to wear a veil during the Olympic Games.” This statement provoked a great reaction in the international arena and put discussions about human rights violations back on the agenda.
In response to Anadolu Agency’s question on this issue, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said: “The use of the headscarf in sports competitions at Paris 2024 depends on the competition rules determined by the relevant international federation. In the Olympic Village, athletes are free to wear a veil whenever they want.” He made a statement.
Although the IOC claims that athletes can wear headscarves whenever they want in the Olympic Village, it is criticized for being ineffective regarding bans imposed by countries or federations participating in the games.
“THE GOVERNMENT MUST EXPLAIN WHAT IT HAS DONE
Simon Chadwick, professor at the SKEMA Business School in Paris, evaluated this decision made by France before the Anadolu Agency.
“France’s ban raises many questions and contradictions, including an athlete’s right to self-determination,” Chadwick said. He said and recalled that the United Nations also reacted to this decision. Furthermore, Chadwick said: “It is clear that the French government must explain its actions and be held accountable,” adding: “The IOC, while granting the right to host the Olympic Games, demands legal protection from its sponsors, so why Assume an equally clear and assertive stance on the use of religious clothing? —Isn’t it noticeable?
Chadwick noted that the decision made by France reveals some facts in the world of international sports and said: “There is no guarantee that there will be no retaliation.” Chadwick stated that France faces some challenges both domestically and internationally: “Therefore, reflecting an open, hospitable and egalitarian France is fundamental to the successful delivery of the games. “Negative feelings among some viewers and stakeholders due to the French government’s veil ban could undermine the government’s objectives.” he said.
THEY DISREGARDED THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
The French ban on headscarves in sports organizations contradicts FIFA’s 2014 decision.
Although FIFA granted female footballers the right to wear a veil in 2014, we saw the first reflection of this practice at the U-17 Women’s World Cup held in Jordan in 2016. However, at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup organized In France, female soccer players were not allowed to wear headscarves due to the country’s local laws.
At this year’s Women’s World Cup, Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco became the first soccer player to take the field wearing a headscarf, attracting widespread attention in the sports world.
On the other hand, American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, reacted to France’s attitude on social media and stated: “The fact that we are questioned about the veil issue is not “does more than strengthen our determination to wear the veil.” “. He shared:
However, athletes who participated in competitions wearing veils and won medals are not limited to Muhammad. In particular, names such as taekwondo athlete Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin, who represented Iran at Rio 2016, Egyptian taekwondo athlete Hedaya Malak, who won medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and Egyptian weightlifter Sara Samir, who won a bronze medal in Rio 2016, having the right to compete with a veil in the Olympic Games, preserved and gone down in history.