According to a June 23 Associated Press article, would-be female athletes in Saudi Arabia have a powerful ally in their efforts to overturn a nationwide ban on athletic participation by girls and young women:
Appealing to a powerful Saudi prince, an 8-year-old girl asked why she was not allowed to play sports in school like boys. She got an unexpected response: The prince said he hoped government schools for girls would allow playing fields.Playing sports have been associated with a wide range of benefits for female athletes, including improved health, stronger self-esteem, and enhanced self-confidence.
The stand taken by Prince Khaled al-Faisal, governor of the holy city of Mecca and one of the most senior second-generation members of the royal family, on the controversial issue is the strongest official endorsement so far of women's sports and a sign the government may be tilting toward opening up on that front.
Physical education classes are banned in state-run girls schools in conservative Saudi Arabia. Saudi female athletes are not allowed to participate in the Olympics. ... And some clerics even argue that running and jumping can damage a woman's hymen and ruin her chances of getting married.
Posted By: Aspen/CRC
