Beach handball players, previously forced to play in bikinis, will now be able to wear shorts, after the International Handball Federation (IHF) changed its rules in early October.
“The players must wear short and tight shorts”, now specifies the IHF regulations, while their male counterparts can wear shorts that arrive “Ten centimeters above the kneecap” provided they are not “Not too loose”, according to this regulation published on October 3.
For the upper body, the dress required by the IHF is the same for men and women: “Fitted tank tops”.
Fine of 1,500 euros for the Norwegian team
The clothing now legal for the women is almost identical to that worn by the Norwegian players in July, when they were sanctioned for having abandoned the bikini then required by the IHF, during the match against Spain for the medal of bronze of the European Championship.
The disciplinary committee of the European Handball Federation fined the Norwegian team 1,500 euros, sparking outrage from Norwegian sports circles and commentators, who called for a change in the rules.
The question of clothing has agitated beach sports circles for years, where players consider bikini degrading or impractical. Beach volleyball players are no longer required to wear it since 2012.
Born in Italy in 1990, beach handball is still a confidential sport, unlike beach volleyball.