France Bans Its Women Muslim Athletes from Wearing Hijab in Paris Olympics 2024, IOC Clarifies No Restrictions on Other Country Athletes

The Paris Olympic Games 2024 is just a week away with the opening ceremony scheduled on July 26. The Summer Olympic Games has over 10000 qualified athletes via quota and ranking for respective sports. Host nation, France itself has a massive squad of nearly 550 Athletes, 50% of which are female athletes. The squad came into the news after the French government banned the use of the Hijab - a headscarf worn by some Muslim women athletes during the Summer Olympics and even later in the Paralympic Games. Paris Olympics 2024: Israel Clear To Play in Olympic Football Tournament After FIFA Postpones Decision on Possible Ban.

The ban was imposed by the French Government. In September 2023, France’s sports minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera, made an announcement that no member of the French delegation would be allowed to wear the headscarf during the Olympic Games – that included both Paris Olympics 2024 and Paralympic Games scheduled later. In the statement released, the Sports Minister said, “The representatives of our delegations in our French teams will not wear the veil, attachment to a regime of strict secularism, strictly applied in the field of sport”.

As of today, France is the only country on the continent that excludes hijab-wearing athletes in most domestic sports competitions. However, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that athletes will be free to wear the hijab at the athletes’ village. In reply to the questions raised after France’s decision, an IOC (International Olympics Committee) spokesperson mentioned, “There are no restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural attire.” Preeti Panwar Hospitalised, Other Indian Boxers Also Feeling ‘Uneasy’ at Germany Training Camp Ahead of Paris Olympics 2024: Report.

Paris Olympics will start on July 24, with some sports like handball, and football games starting on the day. The Paris Olympics opening ceremony is scheduled for July 26, with August 11 scheduled to be the concluding day for the mega event.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2024 01:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).