The following has been circulated by British Swimming...
Swimsuit query
There are occasions when, for religious reasons, a swimmer needs to remain covered and the wearing of a full length body suit should not pose a barrier to the individual taking part in training and/or competition. The Legal Department has provided guidance in relation to this and the document can be accessed via the link below.
www.swimming.org/assets/uploads/library/Swimwear_and_Equality_Guidance_Note_130210v4_Re_PrintFINAL.pdf
Jane Davies
British Swimming Officials Group.
Parents
Former Member
This doesn't suggest 'open season' for people wear body suits. We have a large Islamic population in the UK and the ASA has a responsibility to improve inclusion and diversity in swimming participation. The swimsuit rules are a barrier to participation for practicing female muslims.
One of the side products of the body suits era is that countries that had previously not competed in swimming competition at international level, that were predominantly Islamic, started to enter female competitors. This is a good thing for the sport.
I'd agree that at the top level of the sport it could cause controversy, but at the grass roots competitive level is positive.
This doesn't suggest 'open season' for people wear body suits. We have a large Islamic population in the UK and the ASA has a responsibility to improve inclusion and diversity in swimming participation. The swimsuit rules are a barrier to participation for practicing female muslims.
One of the side products of the body suits era is that countries that had previously not competed in swimming competition at international level, that were predominantly Islamic, started to enter female competitors. This is a good thing for the sport.
I'd agree that at the top level of the sport it could cause controversy, but at the grass roots competitive level is positive.
