Handball chiefs scrap ‘sexist’ bikini bottoms for female players just months after Norway stars REFUSED to wear them
HANDBALL chiefs have confirmed Bikini-style uniforms will no longer be mandated for female beach players – just months after Norway stars refused to wear them.
The Norwegian national team in July started a campaign to allow women to wear short tight pants instead of bikinis.
Norway’s federation were fined because players wore shorts at the European Championship opposed to bikinis.
US pop star Pink jumped in to help the protesting Norway stars and accused the European Handball Federation of being sexist after sanctioning the team.
Pink could not believe the double-standard, tweeting her support for Norway women.
She wrote: “I’m VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR “uniform”.
“The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.”
Norway’s handball federation also stood by its athletes, saying: “We are very proud of these girls who raised their voices and announced that enough is enough!
“Together we will continue to fight to change the rules for clothing, so that players can play in the clothes they are comfortable with.”
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Before the Tokyo Olympic Games Norway’s side took to Instagram to express their gratitude.
They posted: “Thank you so much for all the support. We really appreciate all the love we have received. You’re the best.”
And now the Switzerland-based IHF have updated the rules in a document on its website dated Oct. 3.
Days earlier, the sports ministers from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland urged the IHF and other international sports to let athletes be dressed in a way that suits performance and comfort.