Still facing cultural barriers
Taking part in the Olympics is challenging for all the athletes but women participating from Muslim countries face additional problems. It wasn’t until 1984 that Nawal el Moutawakel became the first Arab Muslim woman to win gold at the Olympic Games. Muslim women are still under-represented at the Games – but their numbers are growing. So too is the challenge to cultural, and some say religious, barriers that still deny some women the chance to compete on the international stage. Dale Gavlak reports on the experience of Muslim women athletes, some of whom are competing in the Bejing Games. |
