Women change face of Olympics

EVERY country competing in the London Olympics will be represented by female athletes for the first time in the history of the games, after Saudi Arabia agreed to include two women in its team.

The decision by the Middle Eastern country to send two women to compete in the judo and 800m events was announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday.

It follows earlier agreements by Qatar and Brunei to include female athletes in their teams for the first time.

Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani will represent Saudi Arabia in the +78kg judo competition, while runner Sarah Attar will run in the 800m event.

Speaking from her training base in San Diego, 17-year-old Attar said: “A big inspiration for participating in the Olympic Games is being one of the first women for Saudi Arabia to be going.

“It’s such a huge honour, and I hope that it can really make some big strides for women over there to get more involved in sport.”

Brunei has entered one woman, Maziah Mahusin, in the track and field events, while Qatar will be represented by swimmer Nada Arkaji, track athlete Noor al-Malki, table tennis player Aya Magdy, and shooter Bahiya al-Hamad.

Ms al-Hamad has also been selected as the country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony in London on 27 July.

“I’m overwhelmed to have been asked to carry the Qatari flag at the opening ceremony,” she said. “It’s a truly historic moment for all athletes.”

Saudi Arabia had been under intense pressure from the IOC and human rights groups to include female athletes in their team.

IOC president Jacques Rogge yesterday said they had been striving to ensure a greater gender balance at the Olympic Games and described the decision by the Saudi authorities as “very positive news”.