Egypt's women beach volleyball team member Doaa El-Ghobashi has brought attention after appearing in Rio 2016 Olympics with a hijab, alongside with teammate Nada Moawad -- who was not veiled but wore legging and long sleeves. Multitudes of news reports have spread across the globe in many different languages focusing on the women's clothing – and not the sport -- causing a lot of social media attention. In their first appearance, the African champions lost 2-0 (21-12, 21-15) on Sunday to German's Ludwig and Walkenhorst. They are playing Italy on Tuesday at 17:00 Cairo time (GMT+2) in the second game of group D.
Ahram Online collected some random social media comments from its Facebook page: Romina Miersch: Sure we shouldn't define any of athletes by their clothes, I agree, but these Egyptian girls also sent a message to the world: out of the Islamic countries people often think that veiled girls are not allowed to do anything else than cooking, cleaning and taking care about the kids. These girls showed the world that veiled girls can do anything they want. Sandra Tizzard: That's their culture and they are happy with that, we should respect that not criticise because they don't conform with the culture and traditions of others. Good on them for competing as it raises the profile of women in their country. Hanan Abskharon: They are no better or no less than female volleyball players that do wear bikinis. Females athletes or otherwise should not be defined by their clothing! Katja Sachse: This team is there for sport, not to be judged by their appearance like any other team. img alt='Egypt's beach Volleyball team' title='Egypt's beach Volleyball team' src='http://english.ahram.org.eg/Media/News/2016/8/9/2016-636063500169387439-938.jpg' / Diana Horton: I don't understand why they wear bikinis. The swimmers are more covered! It's unnecessary. The men are in baggie shorts. Confused by my own culture...*sigh*. Mohamed El Fekky: Oh good lord, the amount of idiocy, discrimination, and misogyny in the comments section is intolerable. How about you all mind your own business, and as for those "embarrassed", please let us see you "become our pride and joy" in the next Olympics… Mohamed Kassem: I think it's always about the sport, with or without clothes on. I don't see any superiority in covering up, nor any inferiority associated with wearing a Hijab while practicing your sport. Quite frankly, I don't understand why this is a headline in a newspaper, it's completely out of context to what goes on in the Olympics. Bernadette N: That's the issue now?! They r at the Olympics. How are they playing? That's the issue!! See more comments and leave yours on Facebook AhramOnlineSports or twitter @AO_Sports img alt='Egypt's beach Volleyball team' title='Egypt's beach Volleyball team' src='http://english.ahram.org.eg/Media/News/2016/8/9/2016-636063500169598063-959.jpg' /
