To Sal from earlier in the thread--I missed rampage's comments, but you are correct: I have no problem with any woman wanting to dress more modestly in competitive sports. There are plenty of Christian and Jewish sects that have strict dress codes, too. However, I believe it is incumbent upon the woman wanting to make the rule change to work within the rules of organization she want to compete. Governing bodies of sports make rulings on what type of dress and equipment is permitted all the time, and generally they are focused on the issue of a level playing field. The article points out possible advantages to wearing long-sleaved shirts in weight lifting, but I personally see no reason not to allow a hijab in soccer. Until the rule change is made, she has the option to join a group that allows to her dress as she chooses or not compete.
My objection is when idiots start blathering on about how this is all about discrimination and hatred of Muslims and another Crusade without knowing much about the Crusades or having any evidence (except for some pithy quote from nut that runs Iran). And then others complain about special treatment for Muslims. Obviously it is a deeply religious matter for some of the women involved (and I greatly admire those women who withdraw voluntarily on moral grounds), as you point out, but I don't think the wider issue for the sport has to treat it as a religious matter.
To put it in secular terms: If someone wants to wear a wonder woman costume while boxing the objection should be based on the advantage her magic lasso gives her, not on a judge's preference for a cat woman costume.
To Sal from earlier in the thread--I missed rampage's comments, but you are correct: I have no problem with any woman wanting to dress more modestly in competitive sports. There are plenty of Christian and Jewish sects that have strict dress codes, too. However, I believe it is incumbent upon the woman wanting to make the rule change to work within the rules of organization she want to compete. Governing bodies of sports make rulings on what type of dress and equipment is permitted all the time, and generally they are focused on the issue of a level playing field. The article points out possible advantages to wearing long-sleaved shirts in weight lifting, but I personally see no reason not to allow a hijab in soccer. Until the rule change is made, she has the option to join a group that allows to her dress as she chooses or not compete.
My objection is when idiots start blathering on about how this is all about discrimination and hatred of Muslims and another Crusade without knowing much about the Crusades or having any evidence (except for some pithy quote from nut that runs Iran). And then others complain about special treatment for Muslims. Obviously it is a deeply religious matter for some of the women involved (and I greatly admire those women who withdraw voluntarily on moral grounds), as you point out, but I don't think the wider issue for the sport has to treat it as a religious matter.
To put it in secular terms: If someone wants to wear a wonder woman costume while boxing the objection should be based on the advantage her magic lasso gives her, not on a judge's preference for a cat woman costume.