The focus of organizers of global and Olympic gymnastics competitions has shifted from achieving medals and championships to a more promotional approach.
This trend emphasizes the athletes’ attire, which has not been accepted in many Islamic countries and other parts of the world. The use of women’s sports for promotional purposes has led some countries to protest the athletes’ outfits at the Olympics.
The German women’s gymnastics team participated in the Tokyo Olympics wearing more covered and different outfits. The German Gymnastics Federation stated that this move was a protest against the “sexualization of gymnastics.
” Sara Voss, one of the German athletes, said about the decision: “We want to feel amazing and show everyone that the beauty of our movements and appearance is in the sport itself, not in the type of clothing we wear.”
The dress code in various gymnastics disciplines had prevented many Muslim women from participating in global and Olympic competitions. This exclusion strongly highlighted the need for changes to global regulations.
Zahra Incheh-Dargahi, the president of the Iranian Gymnastics Federation, spoke to IRNA about this issue: “We had to take meaningful action for the large population of Muslim women in the world. To do this, we first needed to change mindsets. In 2018, I invited an international gymnastics official to Iran to attend a girls’ camp. After returning, he said, ‘Thank you for allowing me to see another world and take note of the hijab of Muslim women.’ This was the beginning of the hijab debate on a global scale.”
Although changing the dress code regulations in some gymnastics disciplines was a lengthy process, after six years, we are now witnessing changes in trampoline gymnastics. According to the new regulations, hijab-wearing girls from Iran and other Islamic countries can participate in major global and Olympic competitions.
Impact of the Law Change on Muslim Girls
Incheh-Dargahi’s efforts have paved the way for a new path for Muslim women worldwide. This path can lead to successes similar to those achieved in other sports and may result in winning valuable medals on a global and Olympic scale for Iranian champions.
The change in global regulations and the opportunity for Muslim girls to compete in international events is a significant decision by the Iranian Gymnastics Federation to have a meaningful influence in global gymnastics.
Now, no single country or culture can impose their preferences on athletes from other countries. Trampoline competitions will become a platform to promote Islamic and Iranian dress codes. With these changes, there is hope that other gymnastics disciplines will follow suit and reconsider their regulations.
IRNA