The International Handball Federation has removed their “sexist” women’s bikini uniform regulation following global criticism of “completely ridiculous” fines last summer.
Athletes and fans alike called for the IHF and European Handball Federation (EHF) to reverse a €1,500 ($1,736.32 USD) fine to the Norwegian women’s handball team, who wore shorts, not the regulation bikini, to the Euro 21 beach handball tournament in Bulgaria last July, with the EHF calling down the women for “improper clothing.”
This month, the IHF amended its rules to allow for more coverage in the women’s uniform, stipulating that players must wear a tank top and “short tight pants with a close fit” reaching down to mid-thigh — as opposed to the original crop tops and bikini bottoms.
Male athletes, on the other hand, may continue to wear shorts measuring no longer than 10 centimeters above the knee.
IHF rules had long required that women wear “tops and bikini bottoms and eventual accessories,” while men have always been free to wear shorts. Still, the updated rules continue to call for “tight,” “body fit” pieces, while men are held to no such conditions. Rather, their bottoms are to be qualified as “not too baggy.”
The change came following a petition led by Australian activist Talitha Stone, based in Norway, and gender equality advocacy organization Collective Shout. Their push to update the women’s handball uniform garnered more than 61,000 signatures.
“I hope this is the beginning of the end of sexism and objectification of women and girls in sport,” said Stone in a statement. “And that in future all women and girls will be free to participate in sport without fear of wardrobe malfunctions and sexual harassment.”
Stone and Collective Shout are also responsible for leading a campaign against the Lingerie Football League in 2012, which exists still today.
Pop star Pink declared her support of the Norwegian handballers for “protesting the very sexist rules” during the controversy last summer, offering to pay their fines. A number of European sports leagues also called for the resignation of IHF and EHF presidents.
The overwhelming public support for the change prompted sports ministers five European countries — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland — to finally call out the IHF last month for the “completely ridiculous” rule, including Norway’s minister for culture and sport, Abid Raja.
They urged the league “not only to accommodate current female athletes — but also to support and encourage all athletes regardless of their gender or background to remain in sport.”