London, May 25(ANI): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board's failure to take action against Saudi Arabia for refusing to include women in their squad for the London Olympics has angered and distressed international human rights groups.
The board discussed the situation at length during a meeting in Quebec on Thursday, and could not arrive at a decision to impose sanctions on Riyadh.
The IOC is now hoping it can convince the Saudis to change their attitude on issues, or it would be a breach of IOC's charter.
"We are still optimistic the country will send female athletes to London," The Telegraph quoted an IOC source, as saying.
This was to be the first Olympic Games to have women in every national delegation participating, but the Saudis have consistently resisted calls to send a female delegation.
Saudi Olympic Committee president Prince Nawaf bin Faisal said he was "not endorsing" female participation in London as part of the country's official delegation.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, only Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia sent all-male teams. This year, Qatar and Brunei have confirmed they will send female athletes as part of their teams for the first time.
Human Rights Watch has been particularly vocal in the lead-up to the IOC discussion on the issue at its executive board meeting.
"Saudi Arabia is the last holdout denying women and girls the ability to take part in sports," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
"The Saudi government's position should trigger serious scrutiny by the Olympic family. The dismal and unequal conditions for women and girls who seek to practice sports in Saudi Arabia need to change now," she added. (ANI)
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