Changing Room Chat: Saudis back out of Olympic move

Published on 06/04/2012 00:00

A SAUDI Arabian newspaper says the ultraconservative kingdom will not send women to the London Olympics, weeks after saying it would.

Al-Watan newspaper reports that Crown Prince Nayef opposes sending female athletes to the Olympics for the first time. But he left room for Saudi women to compete on their own outside the official delegation. A similar arrangement was made at the Youth Olympics in 2010 for Saudi equestrian competitor Dalma Rushdi Malhas to participate. She won a bronze medal in show jumping.