French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla, who said she would not be permitted to participate in the Olympic opening ceremony because of her headscarf, will be allowed to take part after all, according to the French sports minister.
In her statement, the athlete said: “You are selected for the Olympic Games, organized in your country, but you can’t take part in the opening ceremony because you wear a scarf on your head.”
However, French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra stated that a way has been discovered to let Sylla participate in the ceremony.
Oudéa-Castéra: The issue is solved
According to Oudéa-Castéra, Sylla had been informed that she would not be permitted to wear political or religious symbols and that the regulation is based on the Constitution of France. In recent years, France has implemented a number of contentious prohibitions and limitations on articles of traditionally Islamic clothing.
The French sports minister explained: “That’s the law and we need to obey the law, and she understands perfectly that when you’re an athlete representing your country, you need to be exemplary… So what we discussed with her is the fact that she can wear something, but not something that can be assimilated to a religious symbol.”
Furthermore, Oudéa-Castéra announced that Sylla and LVMH, the fashion designers for France’s opening ceremony ensembles, have devised a way for the sprinter to conceal her hair.
“That’s a win-win and we are happy. I always say when you’re benevolent, when you’re constructive, when you’re pragmatic, you can have a solid respect of your rules but while finding the right, you know, avenues, to find solutions,” the sports minister added.
Source: CNN