RIYADH, October 7, 2024 - At the Saudi Games, women’s swimming competitions are private, with men strictly barred from entry. While tradition upholds this separation, growing calls for more inclusive, mixed environments are sparking an ongoing debate.

As you approach the swimming venue at the Saudi Games, you witness an unusual scene: a line of men waiting outside, unable to enter. The reason? It’s the women’s competition, and only female spectators are permitted inside.

Upon entering, the atmosphere feels distinctly different from most major sporting events. There are no cameras, no camera crews, and strict measures are in place to ensure privacy. Through the competition, a team of women diligently monitors the area, ensuring no one raises a phone towards the pool or takes even a casual selfie. Any violation, and they will insist you delete the photos, even from your phone’s trash folder.

ABAYAS AND HIJABS - The final races conclude, and immediately an announcement echoes through the speakers: it’s time to don abayas and hijabs for those who wear them, signaling the imminent arrival of men. Only then, as they come in for the medal ceremony, are women allowed to take pictures again and men are granted access for this brief, ceremonial moment.

THE IDEAL SOLUTION - "I feel more comfortable swimming without men around, even my father or brother," says Maha Alzahrani, a swimmer competing in the Saudi Games. Her mother, Meriem Alzahrani, elaborates on the concept of women-only sports: "When the idea of girls' swimming was first introduced, there was a lot of hesitation. But once people realized it was exclusively for women, everyone embraced it and participation grew. When the first women's sections opened in clubs, there was overwhelming support, and now when you visit, you see plenty of female swimmers.

“Things may change and progress over time, anything is possible. But for now, they participate because it’s women-only, and people feel comfortable with that.

“In Saudi society, we have our values and customs, and for now, this is the ideal solution,” she adds.

Conversely, some athletes deeply wish to compete in front of their loved ones. "I have family members and friends who wanted to come watch me compete, but I had to tell them they couldn’t. And when you can’t even watch it online, it’s disheartening.” expresses Reem AlQahtani, Al Hilal’s silver medalist in the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle. she adds, “I was fortunate to be among the few who got the opportunity to swim when I was younger, partly because my mother is foreign, it wasn’t the case for everyone and swimming wasn’t a sport many people were interested in. But things are changing now with the support of the government and the swimming federation. Today, it’s much easier, and there’s a lot more encouragement for women to participate,” she adds.

THE RIGHT BALANCE - Reflecting on the state of women's swimming, Reem explains, "Swimming is an international sport. If we want to compete at the global level, we must be prepared to swim in mixed environments. Telling the International Federation or the Olympic Committee to separate men and women is unrealistic, and that’s something our government has to consider.”

She concludes thoughtfully: “As long as we create venues that allow all women to swim in a way that makes them comfortable, I fully support that. But it’s about finding the right balance between respecting culture and being open to progress.”
 

Emma Igelstrom, a Swedish five-time world champion, is also competing at the Saudi Games and she secured a bronze medal in the Women’s 50m Freestyle. She initially moved to Saudi Arabia when her husband found work there, and she saw an opportunity to contribute to the country’s swimming scene. For the past year and a half, she and her team have built a swimming academy, with an impressive 54% of the participants being girls. “You can hear it, feel it, read about it, and see it, girls' sports are growing rapidly here. The girls are happy to compete. I’ve never been part of a community more welcoming and grateful for the opportunity to do sports,” says Emma. “But what I’m really working towards is the inclusion of mixed competitions, particularly in swimming. If these girls want to compete internationally, they need to be accustomed to mixed competitions. At the Olympics or world championships, competitions are mixed, and we’re gradually heading in that direction.”

TO COMPETE FREELY - Continuing the conversation, Mustafa Alyousif, the swimming coach at Al Ahly Club, shares his perspective on the progress being made. "Our club started accepting female swimmers just two years ago, and we've already seen significant changes. There are still cultural values and customs in Saudi Arabia that influence how families approach sports, but I’m hopeful that, over time, families will feel comfortable enough to allow their girls to compete freely." He goes on to explain, "For younger girls, it’s not as much of an issue, most of them don’t mind mixed environments. But as they get older, they prefer privacy and often request female coaches. Still, many sports in the Saudi Games already allow for mixed participation, and I hope that in the coming years, the mindset will continue to evolve, eventually allowing us to film and broadcast women's swimming competitions."

To remain within the bounds of tradition or embrace defined international standards. That’s what the coming years will ultimately reveal.