The 5 Nordic countries urged the International Handball Federation “to reappraisal azygous rules successful accordance with sex equality” aft the Norway squad was punished for wearing shorts alternatively of the mandated bikini uniform.
Norway's women were fined by European handball authorities for “improper clothing” aft wearing shorts successful the European formation bronze medal lucifer successful Bulgaria successful July successful protestation astatine the bikini-style rule. Men are allowed to deterioration T-shirts and shorts portion women person to deterioration midriff-baring tops and bikini bottoms.
“The assertion is obsolete, and 1 would deliberation it belonged to different century," Denmark sports curate Ane Halsboe-Joergensen said connected Thursday. "I besides person a hard clip seeing what sporting reasons should beryllium down pistillate athletes having to play successful a bikini.”
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In the unfastened letter, the 5 sports ministers from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland “urge the International Handball Federation and different planetary sports federations to reappraisal azygous rules and to let athletes to beryllium dressed successful a mode that suits show and comfort.”
“We stress the request for enactment not lone to accommodate existent pistillate athletes, but besides to enactment and promote each athletes careless of their sex oregon inheritance to stay successful sport.”
Halsboe-Joergensen noted determination was nary request for pistillate formation handball players to deterioration a bikini “when they would alternatively play successful shorts” and determination was nary akin request for men.
U.S. popular vocalist Pink backed the Norwegian squad and offered to wage the 1,500 euros ($1,700) fine, saying she was “very proud” of the squad for protesting against the rule. Pink tweeted that “the European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good connected ya, ladies.”
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