In an exciting match at the Paris Olympics, the Egyptian women’s beach volleyball team played against Spain. This game was important because it helped decide which teams would move on to the quarterfinals. However, the biggest talk on social media wasn’t about the game itself, but about what the players were wearing.
The Spanish team, made up of Liliana Fernandez and Paula Soria Gutierrez, won the match easily, but it was the difference in clothing that caught everyone’s attention. The Spanish players wore bikinis, while the Egyptian players wore hijabs, long-sleeved shirts, and ankle-length leggings. This contrast led to a lot of discussions online about what athletes should wear in beach volleyball.
The Egyptian team had already criticized France’s ban on hijabs for athletes. Doaa Elghobashy from Egypt said, “I want to play in my hijab, she wants to play in a bikini. Everything is OK, if you want to be naked or wear a hijab. Just respect all different cultures and religions.” She added, “I don’t tell you to wear a hijab and you don’t tell me to wear a bikini. No one can tell me how to dress. It’s a free country, everyone should be allowed to do what they want.”
Groups like Amnesty International have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to overturn the hijab ban, saying it discriminates against Muslim athletes.
While the debate continues, the focus remains on both the exciting beach volleyball matches and the ongoing conversation about cultural and religious expression in sports.
One User
the Egyptian women's beach volleyball team vs Spain at the Paris Olympics pic.twitter.com/V5pVtZMp8D
— juju 💰 (@ayeejuju) August 3, 2024
Second user
Egypt vs Spain’s Women’s Beach Volleyball! 😁 pic.twitter.com/JAB2WgGnUO
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) August 3, 2024
Third User
Egypt v. Spain women’s beach volleyball match at the #Olympics
Perhaps something in between would be a good compromise? (See next tweet) pic.twitter.com/vbEsMZkwCd
— S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) August 3, 2024