Saudi Arabia announced it would allow its female athletes to take part in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, which are set to start in late July.
CNN Arabic reported that the Saudi Embassy in London said in a statement Sunday that it would allow the qualified female athletes to participate in the games.
Saudi Arabia is one of the three countries, including Qatar and Brunei, that don’t allow women to participate in sports events. They are currently reconsidering the ban and promising to send women to the games.
The decision is seen as an important step for Saudi society, which imposes restrictions on women’s freedom in different aspects of life.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
