The Olympic Movement and Islamic culture: conflict or compromise for Muslim women?

Abstract

This discursive article critiques the interface of religious and secular values through analysis of Islamic culture and the Olympic Movement. Recent resurgence in religious interest gives importance to this topic. The authors address the paradox between Olympic ideals for inclusion and sport policies that exclude, in this case, particularly Muslim women. For example, the Olympic Charter commits to universal human rights to participate in sport and be free from discrimination on the grounds of gender and religion; and yet Olympic sport dress code regulations can deny Muslim women's religious requirements of modesty in covering the body. Diverse effects of conflicts between religious and secular values are illustrated through sociological studies into the lives of Muslim sports women and recent events in sport. Different paths to influencing policymakers to become more inclusive of Muslim women in sport are examined. Recommendations propose using the global power and reach of the Olympic Movement in order to move towards negotiated compromise and greater flexibility for more inclusive sport policy and practice.