A row over the requirement of wearing bikinis for female beach handball players, the International Handball Federation (IHF) has changed its rules for sports uniforms, British broadcaster BBC reports.
This summer, the European beach handball championships took place. In the tournament Norway, was the only national team to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms. It was fined 1 500 euros by the International Handball Federation.
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Norway’s Handball Federation (NHF) announced it would pay the fine; however, would «continue to fight to change the rules for clothing, so that players can play in the clothes they are comfortable with». Earlier this autumn, government ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden had asked the IHF to review its uniform rules «in accordance with gender equality».
In October, the IHF released its latest beach handball rule book and in a change, there was no mention of bikinis. The changed rules required female beach handball players can now wear «body fit» tank tops and «short tight pants», as opposed to crop tops and bikini bottoms. Meanwhile, male athletes are allowed to wear shorts that are «not too baggy», yet they must remain 10cm above the knee, BBC reports.
After bikini row, female beach handballers allowed to wear shorts
