French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla will participate in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics wearing a cap to cover her hair, following an agreement with the French Olympic Committee. This decision comes after Sylla claimed she was barred from participating due to her hijab.
During Friday’s opening ceremony, which will feature a parade of athletes on the Seine River, the French delegation will don tailor-made uniforms by the French luxury brand Berluti, owned by the LVMH Group.
In consultation with the French Athletics Federation, the French Ministry of Sports, Paris 2024, and Berluti, discussions were held with Sounkamba Sylla,” the French Olympic Committee stated on Thursday. “She was offered the possibility of wearing a cap during the parade, which she accepted.”
France adheres to a strict principle of “laïcité,” loosely translated as “secularism.” On Wednesday, the president of the French Olympic Committee emphasized that French Olympians must comply with the secular principles applicable to public sector workers in France, which includes a ban on hijabs.
This resolution allows Sylla to take part in the opening ceremony while adhering to France’s secular principles. The decision underscores the ongoing dialogue between personal beliefs and national regulations in international sporting events.
