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London Games: Talks with Saudi on women at Olympics ongoing, says IOC Saudi leaders have been under pressure to end the practice of sending all-male teams to international competitions
The IOC says talks with Saudi Arabia on sending women to the Olympics continue despite reports the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom reversed its pledge to send female athletes to the London Games. In a statement on Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee says it remains "confident of a positive outcome." Saudi leaders have been under pressure to end the practice of sending all-male teams to international competitions. A report in a Saudi-owned newspaper said this week no female athletes have qualified for the Olympics and no women will be included on the team which will be competing in equestrian, athletics, and weightlifting. Human Rights Watch says the announcement in the pan-Arab daily newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat - an important media tool for Saudi rulers - suggests Saudi Arabia will not send any women to London and urges the IOC to bar the country from participating for violating the equality rules in the Olympic Charter. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)