Olympics Judo: Saudi Arabian Athelete in Hijab Dispute

[Southie]

Re: Olympics Judo: Saudi Arabian Athelete in Hijab Dispute

@Mehnaz

I found the explanation. Two female atheletes did not qualify due to their circumstances. They were invited to participate with a special invitation from the IOC.

In Saudi Arabia … women cannot register for sports clubs, league competitions and other female-only tournaments with the government. They are banned from entering all-male national trials, which makes it impossible for them to qualify for international competitions, including the Olympics.

Attar and Shahrkhani were entered for the London Games by the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee by Monday’s deadline.

Neither qualified to compete in the Olympics, but received special invitations from the IOC “based on the quality of the athletes,” Rogge said. “We’ve looked at the ones who are the closest to qualifying standardsy and these were these two athletes,” he said. “That’s always the bottom line in all these invitations.”

Saudi Arabia to send female athletes to Olympics for first time - CBC Sports

Good research!