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Views on the female Saudi Olympians

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  1. #61

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    Quote Originally Posted by hullexile:
    I noticed that three athletes entered as "individuals" is this new this time? Not noticed it before.
    This is quite interesting - can't immediately find anything on it via Google - do you have a link to more info?

  2. #62

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gruntfuttock:
    This is quite interesting - can't immediately find anything on it via Google - do you have a link to more info?
    Its the guy from South Sudan and the two people from the Dutch Antilles.

    They are racing without colours, but coming in under the Olympic flag.
    Gruntfuttock likes this.

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  4. #64

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    Quote Originally Posted by bookblogger:
    That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing though. It would be the Olympics as existed prior to the 1970s, or whenever it became overly commercialised. I would certainly like to see more emphasis placed on fitness, and less on luxury watches, credit cards and junk food. Plus less corruption in the IOC, which is fuelled by these vast sums of sponsor money.
    Before commercialization wasn't it just a state sponsored bragging contest.

  5. #65

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    Quote Originally Posted by virago:
    Sorry I haven't read the responses but....the Saudi women were given wild cards from the Olympics to compete. They did not qualify to compete. There is nothing wrong with asking why they were given wildcards as there are many thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) that didn't qualify to compete from many other countries.

    Anyway the symbolic gesture to allow them to compete is probably a good move from the IOC to spark more Muslim countries to open up to new ideas.
    As others have posted most sport governing bodies adopt rules that help spread their game and is readily accepted as a principle. If only the best players were allowed then the table tennis 1/4 finals upwards would probably all be Chinese.

    Hopefully the sight of this small group of women will inspire young girls, parents, teachers, coaches in less open societies that it is possible to have a sporting dream and achieve it.
    Last edited by East_coast; 10-08-2012 at 09:51 PM.

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