Longer pants, yes, but please keep them tight
The outfit of the offense: Norway’s beach volleyball players protested in July against the tight outfits in their sport
What: pa / abaca / ABACA
In the summer, Norway’s beach handball players were punished for refusing to compete in bikini bottoms. A worldwide debate followed, which also fueled pop star Pink. Now the world association is changing the rules. In moderation.
Et was a debate that even pop star Pink got involved in at some point. Now there are new rules for handball players who throw their goals in the sand. The world association IHF has reacted to ongoing protests and changed the “dress code” for beach handball players.
In its competition regulations of October 3, 2021, the IHF will in future allow “short, tight-fitting trousers” for women’s competitions. Previously, the official rules had stipulated that women had to wear bikini bottoms that were tight-fitting and had a side width of “a maximum of ten centimeters”.
The new regulations now allow players to wear shorts that can reach mid-thigh. Instead of a sports bikini top, a sleeveless tank top can also be worn. The new set of rules will be presented at the IHF Congress (November 8th to 11th in Turkey) and will come into force on January 1st, 2022.
Pink pays jersey fine
The trigger for the rule change was the case of the Norwegian beach handball players. Because they had worn somewhat longer sports pants instead of the mandatory bikini pants in protest at the European Championships in Bulgaria in July, they had to pay a fine of 1,500 euros after a decision by the European Handball Federation for “inappropriate clothing”.
The players were then joined by pop singer Pink, who, deeply impressed by the Norwegian protest, took over the costs. In addition, ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden called on the world association to review its dress code.
However, the new rules do not create equality. For men, the rules do not stipulate that the playing attire must be tight.
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