Vivvo CMS 4.1 http://www.pri.org/ ©2010 Spoonlabs d.o.o. http://www.pri.org/files.php?file=rss_682409203.gif http://www.pri.org/ http://www.pri.org/stories/world/middle-east/activists-question-saudi-arabia-s-commitment-to-human-rights-10478.html Middle East Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:00:00 -0500 Human-rights activists are challenging Saudi Arabia's commitment to allow women athletes to compete in the Olympics after the country's only female candidate was disqualified. Saudi Arabia has never sent women to compete and as a policy, bans women from playing sports. Middle East Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:16:44 -0500 This whole argument about Malhas is based on misinformation. First of all, she was not "disqualified." She never qualified to begin with, she never even began trying to qualify until less than 3 months prior to the deadline. That's a last ditch effort. Also, qualification is not the same thing as selection. The FEI has minimum qualifying requirements for all countries; then each country has and additional selection process to determine who will be on their team. These spaces got to the best, not to novices with no experience at the level (eg Malhas). HRW and the press didn't do their homework. If you check the facts, you'll see there are two paths to the Olympics: the normal way being selected/nominated by your NOC as part of the official team (never an option for Malhas regardless of gender policy because the Saudi team was selected a long time ago, and Malhas is nowhere near their level of experience/capability). The other way to get to the Olympics is extraordinary, via an IOC wild card. The IOC policy, reiterated at every turn, has been NO WILD CARDS. Why? Because that is what Saudi wants! That is what was done for the YOG with Malhas, and it worked out great. They got the benefits without having to incorporate her into their official delegation. Saudi WANT Malhas there, on a wild card. That means they don't have to do anything with their other female athletes, in the sports where they do in fact have places. They have no places available in equestrian simply because they have a medal-contending team and Malhas is not at that level (the YOG was at FEI Children's leve, 1.20 meters, normally restricted to 12-14 year old kids. The Olympics are at 1.60 meters, totally different situation; she has NO experience at that level!). Also, Jacques Rogge confirmed the other day that there are two female athletes they expect to be nominated by the Saudi NOC. Sure they could start dithering again or renege, but you, the media, and HRW are writing complete fiction with regard to Malhas. She was always a last resort option for the IOC, if Saudi refused to comply. THEN they would give her a wild card if she could qualify. That is WHY she didn't even begin the bid to qualify until just before the deadline! It's all very simple if you seek facts with an open mind and do your research. The notion that Saudi has somehow been dishonest in announcing their reversal because Malhas wasn't eligible is not getting it...the nominated entries were published a while ago, and her name wasn't on the list, for the reasons stated above. It was already public information that she was not eligible to compete and would not be competing. What Saudi was trying to do in mentioning her is still trying to get the IOC to give her a wild card. That is what it's all about. It's bad enough this very young woman is a political tool for both sides but it would be so much more respectful of her to stick to the facts. PRI: Public Radio International