French sprinter to wear cap after hijab ban – Firstpost

French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla will be allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony wearing a cap to cover her hair, an agreement reached with the French Olympic Committee after Sylla said she was barred because of her hijab.

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At Friday’s opening ceremony, which includes a parade of athletes on the Seine, the French delegation will wear custom-made uniforms from French luxury brand Berluti, owned by the LVMH group.

“In consultation with the French Athletics Federation, the Ministry of Sports, Paris 2024 and Berluti, discussions took place with Sounkamba Sylla,” the French Olympic Committee said in a statement on Thursday. “She was offered the opportunity to wear a cap during the parade, which she accepted.”

France has a strict principle of “secularism.” On Wednesday, the president of the French Olympic Committee said French Olympic athletes were required to respect the secular principles that apply to public sector workers in France, separating state from church, which includes a ban on wearing the hijab.

But Sylla, who will compete in the women’s and mixed relays for France, posted a message on his Instagram account to announce that an arrangement had been reached.

“We finally reached an agreement for me to participate in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games,” said Sylla, 26. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your mobilization and support from the beginning.”

A similar solution was found at the European Championships in Rome earlier this year. Sylla, who had already competed with a black scarf in several previous competitions, was asked to compete with a blue cap on which a strip of fabric was sewn to cover his hair.