French Sprinter Sounkamba Sylla Reaches Compromise to Participate in 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
A French sprinter is expected to swap her headscarf for a cap to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. This compromise was reportedly reached after France’s strict secularism laws threatened to bar her from the event.
Sylla’s Predicament
Sounkamba Sylla, a member of France’s 400m women’s and mixed relay teams and a Muslim athlete, recently expressed her concerns about not being able to attend the ceremony due to her hijab.
Earlier this week, she wrote on social media, “You are selected for the Olympics, organised in your country, but you can’t participate in the opening ceremony because you wear a headscarf.”
Secularism Laws and Criticisms
Sylla’s situation has reignited debates about France’s secularism laws, which the Minister of Sport announced last September. These laws prohibit French athletes from displaying religious symbols, including headscarves, during sporting events.
The announcement drew criticism from rights groups and the UN. They argued that these rules are discriminatory, leaving many Muslim athletes feeling “invisible, excluded, and humiliated.” The UN stated, “No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear, or not wear.”
Notably, these restrictions do not affect foreign athletes competing in France. As athletes began arriving for the Games, including those wearing headscarves, the French government seemed eager to downplay the tension between secularism laws and their perceived discrimination against Muslims.
Seeking Solutions
David Lappartient, president of the French Olympic Committee, emphasized that French Olympians must adhere to secular principles, stating, “It’s perhaps sometimes not understandable in other countries in the world, but it’s part of our DNA here in France.”
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, acknowledged the need for a solution, saying, “Our citizens expect us to follow these principles of secularism, but we also need to be inventive about solutions to make everyone feel good.”
Compromise Reached
Late Wednesday, Sylla announced that a solution had been found, allowing her to participate in the opening ceremony. While she didn’t provide specific details, the French Olympic Committee confirmed to Agence France-Presse that Sylla had agreed to wear a cap during the parade along the Seine River.
Continued Criticism
Despite this compromise, criticism of the French rules continues. Australian boxer Tina Rahimi, who competes while wearing a hijab, expressed her support for Sylla and other athletes affected by these laws.
In a social media video, Rahimi stated, “It’s so unfortunate for the athletes in France because it has nothing to do with your performance. And it should not get in the way of you being an athlete. It’s so hard for you to be an Olympic athlete and to think that you have to give away your faith to participate in these events.”
