LOS ANGELES (AP) — A human rights group is calling on the International Olympic Committee to require that Saudi Arabia’s participation in Olympic sporting events, including the upcoming London Games, be contingent upon the Arab country allowing girls and women to play competitive sports.
Human Rights Watch issued a report Wednesday saying that Saudi Arabia is violating the IOC charter’s pledge of equality. The country has never sent a woman to compete in the Olympics.
In interviews with Saudi women and international sporting officials, the group found that Saudi government restrictions put sports beyond the reach of almost all women in the Gulf nation.
Within a year, the group wants Saudi Arabia to start introducing physical education for girls in all schools, and allocate money for women’s sports in the youth ministry, the Saudi national Olympic committee and Saudi sports federations.
