This is an encouraging shift - Saudi to field female Olympians

So it seems the London Olympics will be the first for which all countries will have females on their teams.

The Canberra Times is reporting that Qatar, Brunei, and late to the party Saudi Arabia, will all field female teams. Given that the Saudi government has reportedly been getting stricter about public appearances of women, could this be a turning point?


Like many, I find the cultural restriction on the rights and behaviour of women as abhorrent. It is peculiar to Islamic countries, but I'd hazard a guess it has nothing to do with the Islamic religion, but more to do with the cultures that have over many years been wrapped around the believers of that religion. And like any cultural belief or norm it is subject to change when that culture chooses to change it.

But there's the rub. It's something those people have to change for themselves. In the meantime the rest of us should respect the choices made, accommodate them where necessary, but continue to demonstrate a better, more equal society.

This blog makes interesting reading on the topic, from the perspective of a Muslim woman in America - a tough gig by any measure!