The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday (September 29) announced that athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games can freely wear hijabs within the athletes’ village, despite recent actions taken by France’s sports minister to ban it for the country’s athletes.
The IOC also expressed a need to gain a better understanding of the situation in France and has been in communication with the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF).
France bars its 2024 Olympic athletes from wearing headscarves
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera had previously stated that French athletes would not be allowed to wear hijabs during the Paris Games in order to uphold the principles of secularism.
An IOC spokesperson clarified, “In the Olympic Village, the IOC’s rules apply without restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural attire.” The Olympic Village houses the majority of the approximately 10,000 athletes during the Games, where they share common spaces such as dining halls and recreational areas.
Regarding competition attire, the spokesperson added, “During competitions, the regulations set by the relevant International Federation (IF) are in effect.” The sports competitions at the Olympics are organized and overseen by individual international sports federations, with 32 sports included in the Paris Games program.
International Olympic Committee in touch with CNOSF
Since the French regulation specifically pertains to members of the French team, the spokesperson stated, “We are in contact with the CNOSF to further comprehend the situation concerning French athletes.”
France, home to one of Europe’s largest Muslim minorities, has enacted laws aimed at safeguarding its distinct form of secularism known as “laicité.” President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized that this secularism is facing challenges from Islamism.
Certain Muslim associations and human rights organizations argue that these laws have disproportionately affected Muslims, eroded democratic safeguards, and left them vulnerable to discrimination.
The decision by France to prohibit its athletes from wearing hijabs has drawn criticism from the United Nations human rights office.
The Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 next year.