Norway beach handball team wins ruling in battle over uniforms

Women beach handball teams will no longer have to compete in bikinis during international competitions after the sport’s governing body ruled in favor of the Norwegian team’s complaint over what it called sexist dress codes. 

Starting January 2022, women will be required to wear regulation “short tight pants with a close fit” and a “body fit tank top” when competing, according to the new regulations from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

Female competitors were previously fined or disqualified if they didn’t wear midriff-baring tops and bikini bottoms, while male competitors were allowed to wear tank tops and longer shorts when playing, according to NBC News. 

Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF) President Kare Geir Lio told NBC News that the new change is a “real and symbolic step” toward fighting gender inequality in the sport.

“I think it’s good for the game, but first of all, it’s good for the women, and it’s good for how we treat each other in sports,” Lio said. 

The Norwegian team — one of the top ranked in the world — wore its preferred thigh-length shorts during a July 25 match to protest the uniform rules, saying wearing the bikini-bottom design made them feel “uncomfortable.” 

The IHF initially fined the beach handball team about $1,700 over the uniform infraction. 

This is what they have to wear. They say these bottoms make them feel unnecessarily sexualized + uncomfortable when they have their periods and the likes. They will however play in them as long as they are mandatory by the CEV. pic.twitter.com/OYmmS5PyGi

— Tradia (@amalieskram) July 15, 2021

Lio noted the NHF has been pushing for a change in uniforms rules since 2006, saying the women’s team protest was the “turning point,” NBC News reported. 

Pop musician Pink was among the high-profile supporters of the Norwegian team, offering to pay the fine imposed by the IHF. 

“The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM,” Pink wrote in a tweet at the time. “Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.”

The federation ended up donating the money to a “major international sports foundation which supports equality for women and girls in sports.”