International Handball Federation Drops Bikini Uniform Mandate For Women

After Norway’s national women’s team was fined for wearing shorts earlier this year, it sparked controversy and charges of sexism that lead to an international protest. Now, as of January 2022, bikinis will no longer be mandated for the teams.

The Norwegian Handball Federation had been lobbying for the change since 2006.

Norway’s women’s team was fined $1,700 for wearing thigh-high elastic shorts, which were deemed “improper,” instead of bikini bottoms during a July match in the European Championships. The fine triggered outrage over the sexualization of women’s sports, and the athletes had complained that the bikini bottoms made them “very uncomfortable.”

Ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden called on the IHF in an open letter in September to review its uniform rules “in accordance with gender equality”:

“The Nordic Ministers for Sport call on the International Handball Federation to review uniform rules in accordance with gender equality to prevent that uniform policies tarnish the name of sport. The Norwegian beach handball team was recently fined by the European Handball Federation (EHF) for wearing shorts instead of their required bikini uniforms for the bronze medal game at the European Beach Handball Championships in Bulgaria. The incident serves to highlight the double standards many athletes face when it comes to men’s versus women’s uniforms in various sports. Noting that dress codes in some sports can be both outdated and gendered, we emphasize the need for action not only to accommodate current female athletes but also to support and encourage all athletes regardless of their gender or background to remain in the sport. We acknowledge and support the commitment of the EHF to raise the issue of uniforms at the international level and urge the International Handball Federation (IHF) and other international sports federations to review uniform rules and to allow athletes to be dressed in a way that suits performance and comfort.”

“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,” said the Norwegian Handball Federation President Kåre Geir Lio.