Saudi ambassador and IOC member Princess Reema urges Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to stop criticising him
LONDON: Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States said on Saturday that media criticism of Algerian Olympic gold medallist boxer Imane Khelif must stop and that “kindness and human dignity must always come first”.
Princess Reema bint Bandar, in her capacity as IOC member and member of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission, addressed the 142nd Session of the International Olympic Committee in Paris.
But she said in the case of the abuse Kelly suffered, she spoke “as a woman, as a Muslim, as an Arab woman”.
She continued: “Therefore, I cannot in good conscience serve on this committee and remain silent about the media's comments about Imane Khelif.
“Today I would like to express my heartfelt support to (IOC President) Thomas Bach and all those who delivered the joint statement of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit and the IOC on August 1.”
The Algerian athlete won gold in Paris during a tumultuous time, attracting a lot of attention both in and out of the ring, and being criticized online for misunderstandings about her femininity worldwide.
“From my perspective, the facts are clear: Kelly is a woman,” Princess Reema said. “She was born a woman and lived her entire life as a woman. But despite this joint statement, there has been a continued stream of misinformation-based misreporting that has caused immeasurable suffering, which is not only unacceptable but absolutely heartbreaking,” she added.
The ambassador said Khelif came from humble roots in rural Algeria but, like all other Olympians, had worked hard to earn the right to compete in front of the world with “determination, grit and perseverance”.
Princess Reema bint Bandar, an IOC member and member of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission, speaks at the 142nd Session of the International Olympic Committee in Paris. (Supplied)
“As is the nature of Olympians, she represents the highest quality and capability, and that is what makes these Olympic Games so spectacular and what makes Paris so spectacular. But no one has the right to deny her femininity, and to continue to spread false stories about her is an attempt to rob her of her dignity and her merits,” Princess Reema said.
“So I stand before his distinguished committee today and say this cannot continue. Female Olympians are elite, they train to be the best of the best. And we can still have this conversation because we have all collectively failed. So I think this is more important than ever.
The princess said that if women remain silent, they are seen as having accepted a false report or are seen as weak, and if they speak out, they are labeled defensive.
“I think athletes should focus on their performance, not on justifying their existence,” she told the committee.
“No athlete should be bullied or ridiculed because of their looks. No athlete should be weaponized by their victories, their talents, or the accomplishments they have developed throughout their lives. Because talent trumps looks.
“These Olympics are a time to celebrate diversity, bringing together athletes from all over the world. But as you know, ladies and gentlemen, women are not unique in how they look, what they say, or how they act, and women in their respective sports are all unique. The only thing they have in common is their determination to reach the top,” she added.
“Every woman who has ever felt isolated, ridiculed or told she doesn't belong, fell down with her. And when she rose, she rose with her,” the Saudi princess said as she knelt in tears after the khalifa's quarter-final win.
She added that she fully supported the IOC and “the brave and bold statement they made”, as well as “all the women who have been subjected to unnecessary criticism” “in their time to shine and reap”.
She continued: “I urge the general public and humanity to look at these female athletes and see what they have been through and ask yourself: What would your daughter be like? What would it be like if it were your female friend or relative? Your words matter and our actions matter.
“And to all the girls out there who think they're a little bit outside the box or a little bit outside the norm, when you see a racquet, pick it up, when you see a soccer ball, kick it, when you see a track, run as fast as you can.”
