The Olympic Games Closing Ceremony is playing in the background as I write this. I’m not really interested in watching it. Opening Ceremonies, Closing Ceremonies – they hold little allure for me, especially after London. I though the Opening Ceremony of the London Games was dire. People worldwide were scratching their heads asking what a loads of kids in hospital beds and nurses had to do with anything. And they were right. It was beyond pretentious. To put it in the vernacular – it was up its own arse. So, I’m not bothered about this one, it’s just background noise.
I’ve dipped in and out of the Olympics. To be honest, once the tennis was over, that was the end of it for me. And what tennis matches there were! Del Potro knocking out Djokovic – hooray! Then, in a fabulous match, knocking out Nadal – boo! And the epic four-hour final between Del Potro and Murray was one of the best matches I’ve seen in a long, long time. And the women’s gold medal match was a joy to watch, too, as Monica Puig of Puerto Rico beat the World No 2 Angelique Kerber. If anything watching the Games just reconfirmed my thoughts that tennis players are among the best athletes in the world. It’s one thing to run for 10 seconds, or even ten minutes; or to throw a javelin five times or to jump until you’re knocked out. But to play six matches in seven days and end up having to fight for four hours to win a gold medal – or a silver one in Del Potro’s case – that takes nerve and stamina to another level. I dipped in and out of the athletics and was put out that not one of the four channels showing the Olympics here showed the women’s hockey final. I ‘watched’ it through my Facebook page, where my cousin K kept me updated on the scores. When it got to the penalty shoot-out – well! I really couldn’t look! LOL! But well done to the women! Excellent result!
It’s been a Games where sexism has reared its ugly head time and time again, with women’s efforts and achievements being credited to their husbands and where often, women’s sports have been totally sidelined or ignored. Much was made of the beach volleyball match between Germany and Egypt as the women wore such different sportswear.
Some were claiming that both women were ‘Wearing what they want to.’ I think that’s naive in the extreme. I take on board that the German player is waxed and wearing next-to-nothing as is expected of her, but the Egyptian player isn’t wearing what she has chosen to. Choice for muslim women doesn’t come into it. I personally think the answer lies between the two. Why can’t the non-muslim women wear shorts and t-shirts like the men? Nothing wrong with that. But what worries me more is why are we so tolerant of the headscarf, which is such a symbol of misogyny and the subjugation of women? Why do we kid ourselves that women “choose” to wear the hijab? They wear it because they’ve got a father or a brother or a husband or an uncle or a grandfather – or even, sadly, a mother, who has told them they should. Brainwashed since they have use of reason into thinking that they MUST wear it, by a religion, started by a man, nearly fourteen hundred years ago, they cover themselves up. And my heart weeps every time I see this.
Who can forget the photo of 22-year-old Kariman Abuljadayed who came seventh in her hundred metres heat, the first female athlete to represent Saudi Arabia? Who could not look at that photo and be full of admiration for her as a human being – as a woman – competing and trying her best while completely covered from head to toe? Who knows what she has to go through and suffer to train and I am really, seriously worried, what might happen to her when she gets home, having flashed her belly. A country that condemns rape victims to fifty lashes and stones adulterers to death – women that is, not men – is capable of anything and we should never take for granted that she will be completely safe. I find that my thoughts keep on wandering back to her and I hope upon hope that she isn’t punished in any way.
But, I’ve been watching all the honed, attractive (in the main) bodies and been thinking that I’m going to swim more lengths every day. And when I’m not swimming I’m going to be jogging. And when I’m not jogging I’ll be power-walking – although perhaps not; you look silly. And I might join a tennis club and start playing again. And get myself a bike and cycle into St John’s every day.
Or I might just lie on the settee eating chocolates and appreciating the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of others. 🙂
