Pink offers to pay the fine for Norwegian women’s handball team

Published 11:59 26 Jul 2021 BST

Kieran Galpin

Pink offers to pay the fine for Norwegian women’s handball team

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Pink stands with the Norwegian handball team

The Norwegian women's handball team hit the news last week when they were fined for refusing to wear bikini bottoms in their match against the Spanish national team. But now, singer, songwriter, and women's champion Pink has said she would pay the fine. https://twitter.com/Tuttasb1/status/1419176783614709766 The European Handball Federation (EHF) fined the team $1,765 (£1,283), or about $176 for each player, asserting that the women competed in “improper clothing” when they picked shorts rather than the mandated bikini bottoms. The issue arises when men competing in the same sport are permitted to wear shorts that fall just above the knee.

"Of course, we would pay any fine. We are all in the same boat," said Norwegian Handball Federation president Kare Geir Lio.

"The most important thing is to have equipment that athletes are comfortable with."

"I’m VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR “uniform”. The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up," she tweeted. https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1419127641068630016 When another Twitter user criticised the musician, another fan came to her defence:

"When the men play a sport wearing long shorts and tank tops, but the women are REQUIRED to wear bikini tops and bottoms, THAT is sexism! So either let the women wear the same as the men, or make the men play in Speedos," they wrote.

In similar news, the German gymnastics team opted for a full coverage uniform in lieu of the usual leotard.

"As you are growing up as a woman, it is quite difficult to get used to your new body in a way," Sarah Voss said. "We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and we show everyone that they can wear whatever they want and look amazing, feel amazing, whether it is in a long leotard or a short one. "We want to be a role model in any case, to make everybody have the courage to follow us."

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