Saudi commentators on Saturday hailed the first ever participation of women from the ultra-conservative kingdom in the Olympics, but criticised placing female athletes behind the men in the opening ceremony.
“The kingdom is shining with its sons and daughters in London,” wrote columnist Jamal Khashoggi on his Twitter page. “Finally, the Saudi team has men and women,” wrote female journalist Haifa al-Zahrani on her page.
Saudi Arabia, which applies a strict version of Islamic sharia law and imposes constraints on women, agreed to send women athletes to the Olympics on condition that they respect a strict dress code.
During Friday night’s opening ceremony at the Olympic stadium in London, the two women, judoka Wojdan Shaherkani and US-raised 800m runner Sarah Attar, walked behind their male colleagues in the Saudi team.
