At the volleyball match at the Eiffel Tower Stadium, Egypt volleyball players Marwa Abdelhady and Doaa Elghobashy ·· Doaa Elghobashy wore traditional long-sleeved sportswear and headscarves, while Spain players Liliana Fernández Steiner ·· Paula Fernández Steiner and Paula Soria · Paula Soria · Paula Soria were playing against players Liliana Fernández Steiner Paula Soria Gutiérrez) wears a bikini.
The contrast between the uniforms of the two teams has become an important symbol of cultural differences and religious freedom.
According to British media on August 2, after the game, the Egypt team lost 0-2, but after the game, the Egypt players did not bask in the emotions of defeat, but turned the focus to France's ban on bandanas.
The ban only applies to France athletes competing in the Games, covering sports such as football, basketball, volleyball and boxing. This provision has aroused widespread concern and controversy in the international community.
Speaking to the Sweden newspaper Express, Doya · Elghobashi said: "I want to compete in a hijab, she wants to compete in a bikini – if you want to be naked or wear a hijab, everything is fine. Just respect all different cultures and religions. ”
She stressed that individual dress choices should be respected, whether it's a hijab or a bikini, as part of personal freedom.
France has long banned the display of religious and political symbols in public in order to uphold its "secularist" principle, which was widely discussed during the Olympics. France sprinter Sounkamba Sylla was banned from last week's opening ceremony due to · hijab issue, which she expressed her disappointment.
Eventually, after negotiation between the two parties, Silas put on a hat to cover her hair and was able to participate in the competition.
Last month, a number of human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, sent a letter to the IOC condemning France's ban and urging it to intervene.
"The ban imposed by the France sports authorities is discriminatory and prevents Muslim athletes who decide to wear the hijab from exercising their human right to participate in sport without any discrimination," the letter said. The organizations argue that the ban not only violates the human rights requirements of the host country and the IOC's human rights strategic framework, but also runs counter to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement.
Currently, there are no national laws or policies that prohibit the wearing of hijabs in sports competitions. Each sports federation is responsible for formulating its own rules and deciding whether athletes are allowed to wear this religious object. This also makes France's ban particularly prominent and eye-catching.
Cultural and religious sensitivities often take center stage in the sport of beach volleyball. Since the introduction of bikinis at Atlanta 1996, female athletes have been competing in bikinis.
The International Volleyball Federation (FIV) relaxed the dress code ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, allowing female athletes to compete in shorts and sleeved tops instead of sports bras and panties. This change is seen as a sign of respect for cultural diversity and religious beliefs.
Elg Hobashi applauded this, saying: "I like to play in a headscarf rather than a bikini. For other girls, you may not like [it] – but it doesn't matter to you. It's free, I feel very comfortable, it's good. The hijab is a part of me. Not everybody is right for [that]. ”
The incident sparked a global debate, not only about the rules in the world of sports, but also about the protection of cultural diversity and religious freedom.
Many athletes and organizations have called for the Games to be a stage for respect for diversity, not a battleground for cultural and religious conflicts. For many Muslim female athletes, the hijab is not only a symbol of religious belief, but also part of their identity and culture. The ban on the wearing of headscarves is tantamount to depriving them of their right to participate in sports.
Despite widespread controversy and opposition to the ban, the France government and sports authorities insist that the ban is intended to uphold the country's "secularist" principles. This explanation is not universally accepted. Many critics argue that this policy is not only discriminatory against Muslim athletes, but also an infringement on religious freedom.