# Are the Olympics broadcast in conservative Islamic countries?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-olympics-broadcast-in-conservative-islamic-countries/763286>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 19, 2016, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-olympics-broadcast-in-conservative-islamic-countries/763286 "2016-08-19T13:00:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-olympics-broadcast-in-conservative-islamic-countries/763286/1 "2016-08-19T13:00:52Z")

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The social norms for dress (especially for women) in some middle eastern countries are rather repressive by western standards. OTOH, the dress code for the Olympics, for the most part, seems to be “cover as little as possible, and cover it as snugly as possible.” This was highlighted in Rio by the [Egyptian women’s beach volleyball team,](http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/08/09/egypts-uniform-choice-highlights-evolution-womens-beach-volleyball) the members of which elected to buck the norm and wear the optional full-coverage uniform, which had them covered from scalp to ankle in less form-fitting garments.

A westerner watching a beach volleyball event saw a jarring contrast whenever the Egyptian women’s team played, as their opponent was invariably wearing uniforms that left far less to the imagination.

But what did people in Egypt see? Could the average Egyptian turn on a TV and watch the Egyptian women’s volleyball team competing, or were the matches censored because of all the bare flesh visible on their opponents?

What about other conservative Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, or Iran?

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**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-olympics-broadcast-in-conservative-islamic-countries/763286/2 "2016-08-19T14:36:43Z")

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I found this article from 2008. Long story short, the games are broadcast uncut on satellite networks, but state networks may censor in some countries.

> **[How do conservative countries handle scantily clad Olympic athletes?](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2008/08/how-do-conservative-countries-handle-scantily-clad-olympic-athletes.html)**
>
> Yesterday in Beijing, Roqaya al-Gassra of Bahrain won her heat in the second round of the women's 200-meter dash while wearing long pants, long...

> [@](#):
>
> Regional and foreign networks are broadcasting the Games, including Al Jazeera, the BBC, and Al Arabiya, as well as local channels. The foreign broadcasters are not altering their content to reflect local customs, but certain countries with legal dress codes for women might be censoring footage on state-operated channels. (Only a small proportion of the Muslim countries where women tend to dress modestly have compulsory dress codes; in Bahrain, for example, women are allowed to wear whatever they want.)