Summary
As Dave Minuk, president of Judo Manitoba stated, this has nothing to do with religion. Judo is a contact sport, and besides safety, another reason for the uniform is so that the attire worn by both fighters will allow them equal opportunity to apply techniques during a match. This includes, among other rules, restrictions on the length of the sleeves, thickness of the fabric, etc. The rule applied is neither outdated nor a misconception, and it is misleading to say that Judo Manitoba has a prohibition on the hijab. Everybody is treated the same, and [Hagar]'s coach is asking for something that will make one competitor's fighting gear different from another. The reader will be the judge and determine if the coach is showing tolerance and respect for the sport.
I don't see why people can't just accept that a safety rule isn't an insult to people because of their culture. There are probably lots of sports to choose from where it would be safer to wear something wrapped around your head and your neck. I hope the regulations are not changed: They are in place for the good of all participants. In Saturday's issue of the Free Press, the front page shows police reporter Bruce Owen being zapped by a Taser while being supported by two officers. Then Owen in his column reports that Tasers are indeed safe and pose no risk to a healthy individual. However, I believe that the test was incomplete. Immediately after being zapped, Owen should have been allowed to fall to the ground and then have four defensive linemen from the Chicago Bears (or four police officers) pounce on him. If you're going to demonstrate something, do it right!See the full content of this document
Extract
Letters to the Editor
Let Hagar compete
What are we teaching our youth if we do not let them be who they are? Who are we to say what people can and cannot wear according to their faith? If the judges are worried about the hijab being unsafe, find a solution. Can the young lady not we...See the full content of this document
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