Ali Asghar Purmohammadi, the man responsible for broadcasting sports programs on Iran's state-run television, has said he is trying to convince Iranian authorities to give special permission to broadcast female competitions in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Now why would he need a special permission? Because Iran usually frowns upon competitions that show female athletes not observing the Islamic dress code.
The strict dress code has prevented female Iranian athletes from participating in many sports that force its own dress code, such as swimming, diving, gymnastics, cycling, and other sports. Out of the 53 Iranian athletes who will compete in the Beijing Olympics, only three are women: one Iranian female will compete in rowing, archery, and tae kwon do.
Unless the authorities grant the special permission, the Iranian public will miss on cheering even those few female athletes that did make it.
“They obey all the rules. They are allowed to take part in sports. So why shouldn't they be shown on television?†Fatemeh Sepanji, a Tehran-based sports commentator asks. “Obviously they will be shown [on TV] all over the world [when they compete in the Olympics]. What is the point of showing them in one country and hiding them in another?â€
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Trend Themes
1. Female Athlete Representation - Opportunities for disruptive innovation lie in creating platforms and content that highlight and support female athletes from countries with strict dress codes.
2. Broadcasting Diversity in Sports - There is room for disruptive innovation in developing inclusive broadcasting solutions that showcase sports competitions from diverse cultures, challenging traditional norms.
3. Empowering Women in Sports - Disruptive innovation opportunities exist in creating initiatives that empower and encourage women in countries with restrictive gender policies to participate in sports.
Industry Implications
1. Sports Media and Broadcasting - Disruptive innovation can be explored by sports media and broadcasting companies to develop inclusive platforms and content that promote diversity and representation in sports.
2. Sports Apparel and Equipment - Opportunities for disruptive innovation arise in developing sports apparel and equipment that align with cultural and religious dress codes, allowing women from strict dress code countries to participate in various sports.
3. Gender Equality and Empowerment - Disruptive innovation can be pursued by organizations focused on gender equality and empowerment to create initiatives that encourage and support women from restrictive gender policies to engage in sports.