Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Saudi Arabia's Olympic moment
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 05 - 08 - 2012

She did not win any medals in London 2012 but Wojdan Shahrkhani did something else. Shahrkhani became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete at an Olympic Games.
Shahrkhani's quick loss to the more experienced Puerto Rican Melissa Mojica in the +78kg judo competition was totally expected. Shahrkhani has practiced the sport for just two years. But while the bout ended quickly it left a lasting impression. The crowd stood and cheered for Shahrkhani anyway. They knew what they had just witnessed had become breaking news well beyond the bout's venue.
Shahrkhani had been in the news even before her event began after judo officials said she could not wear a headscarf for safety reasons because a fighter could be accidentally choked during the rough, physical contests. Because Shahrkhani would not take off her hijab there were worries she would withdraw. Fortunately, the two sides came to an agreement, and Shahrkhani wore a substitute tight-fighting black cap onto the mat.
This supposed compromise over Shahrkhani's head gear could have been reached long ago. The International Olympic Committee, which invited Shahrkhani to play in London, must have known she wore a hijab and must have known she would not take it off when competing. Instead of settling the debate from the start and have Shahrkhani wear the cap – which is a credible alternative to the hijab - the IOC first made the dramatic announcement that Shahrkhani could not play with the hijab, after which Shahrkhani announced she would not play without it, which was followed by anxious days before the issue was settled. This high noon drama could have been avoided.
Apparently, the hijab still causes much controversy in the West and in sports in the West. It seems a scarf can be tied almost anywhere – around the ankles, calves, below or atop the knees, thighs, waist, wrists, arms, neck and forehead. But if that piece of cloth levitates to the top of a woman's head, the alarm bells go off.
Shahrkhani's hijab was a side issue and should not distract from the main theme: For the first time in an Olympics every competing country had at least one female athlete, and Saudi Arabia contributed to that landmark.
Shahrkhani does not have the spotlight all to herself. Another female member of the Saudi delegation, Sarah Attar, will compete in the 800m of women's track on Wednesday. And Noor Al-Malki created a slice of history as well when on Friday she became the first female athlete from Qatar to compete in the Games. Al-Malki pulled out with a muscle strain but not before the history books were rewritten.
Shahrkhani says she would like to come back for more and at 16 she can enter a few more Olympics. For now she must make due with the Olympic motto: “The most important thing is not to win but to take part". Shahrkhani did not win a medal but she put the Kingdom on the world Olympics map. In so doing, she has struck gold.


Clic here to read the story from its source.