Cultural differences over beach volleyball bikinis

sports cultures — By Bob Riel on December 5, 2006 at 12:13 pm

The Asian Games are currently being held in the Muslim nation of Qatar. By all accounts, the games are a success and the capital city of Doha has spent billions of dollars on facilities and infrastructure upgrades in hopes of attracting future sporting events, perhaps even a Summer Olympics. But one thing money cannot buy is a change in sporting attire, such as the tiny bikinis worn by female beach volleyball players that are now opening eyes in Qatar.

When Salim Al-Nabit and his friends went to see beach volleyball for the first time, they left their wives home.

Al-Nabit said he would watch the bikini-clad women, but he certainly wouldn’t want his wife to do so. He was there, he added, because it was a matter of national honor.

“We don’t see this a lot in Qatar,” Al-Nabit said. “I think most people think it is outrageous. But we accept it because it is important for our country. We want others to see us as a generous and hospitable people, willing to accept their ways, even if we don’t agree.”

Among the 16 Muslim nations represented at the Asian Games, only one has a team entered in the beach volleyball competition – Iraq, who is represented by two Christian sisters attired in somewhat more conservative shorts and tops.

The Qatari women are sitting out the event, though Qatar has teams for everything from archery to skeet shooting.

“It’s not good,” said Parvana Khoory, who watched from the almost-empty stands around the 1,500-seat center court dressed in black from head to toe. “We want a woman to cover all of her body. I think this discourages Muslim women from playing this sport.”