Pink offers to pay EHF fine on Norwegian women's beach handball team
American singer Pink, who recently released a documentary on Amazon about her career and motherhood, told the Norwegian women's beach handball team to "keep it up" and keep fighting the EHF's "sexist" rules.
Pink has offered to pay the €1,500 fine imposed on the Norwegian women's beach handball team by the European Handball Federation.
At the bronze medal game against Spain during the Beach Handball EURO 2021 tournament, the Norwegian team made the decision to wear shorts like their male counterparts instead of bikini bottoms. The EHF declared that the shorts were "improper clothing" and "not according to the Athlete Uniform Regulations defined in the IHF Beach Handball Rules of the Game," resulting in a €150 fine per player.
Pink, whose legal name is Alecia Moore, tweeted that she was "VERY proud" of the women's team, writing "Good on ya, ladies. I'll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up," after calling the EHF rules sexist.
The Norwegian Handball Association also expressed their support for the women's handball team, writing in a Facebook post: "We are very proud of these girls who during the European Championships in Beach Handball raised their voices and announced ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We in the Norwegian Handball Association stand behind you and support you. Together we will continue to fight to change the international regulations for clothing, so that players can play in the clothes they are comfortable with!"
Revisit the Hot Press review of Pink's Amazon documentary, 'Pink: All I Know So Far,' which sheds light on how she balances her career and motherhood.
The American singer has offered to pay the €1,500 fine incurred by Norway's beach handball team for breaking uniform regulations. The team wore shorts instead of bikini bottoms at the European championships in Bulgaria.
American singer Pink has come out in support of Norway's women's beach handball team who took a stance against sexist clothing regulations
Throughout her career, singer Pink has shown she is not shy about speaking up for what she feels is right. Now, she has come to the aid of Norway's beach handball team after they were fined for refusing to wear bikini bottoms at the recent European championships in Bulgaria.
"I'm very proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team for protesting the very sexist rules about their 'uniform,'" Pink tweeted. "Good on ya, ladies. I'll be happy to pay your fines for you."
The sport's rules state that female players must wear bikini bottoms, and that these must have a "close fit" and a side depth of no more than 10 centimeters (3.9 inches). Male players, however, can wear shorts.
Last week, the European Handball Federation said the Norway team had worn "improper clothing" and issued a €1,500 ($1,771) fine to the team.
"In the bronze medal game against Spain on Sunday [July 18] the team of Norway played with shorts that are not according to the athlete uniform regulations," the federation wrote in a statement published on its website.
Team Norway are hoping the stance they took inspires long-term change in the uniform rules
On Monday, the federation announced it had donated the fine to a "major international sports foundation which supports equality for women and girls in sports." Further noting, it was lobbying the International Handball Federation for a change in the rules.
The fine has sparked a raft of criticism in Norway, with the country's handball federation praising the team's stance and the Norwegian sports minister calling the fine "totally ridiculous."
Female players have long complained of finding bikini bottoms uncomfortable and degrading.
Responding to Pink's offer on their Instagram account, the Norway team — which previously said they were "proud about making a statement" — wrote "wow" and thanked the singer for her support.
"We really appreciate all the love we have received," they added under an image of themselves wearing their shorts. "You're the best."
jmc/js (AP, Reuters)
Pink offers to pay bikini fine for
Norway beach handball team
Issued on: 26/07/2021 - 
US pop star Pink has offered to pay a "sexist" fine levied on Norway's women's beach handball team after they refused to wear bikini bottoms during a during a game in the Euro 2021 tournament.
The European Handball Federation (EHF) ordered the team to cough up 1,500 euros ($1,768) after they wore shorts instead of the regulation swimwear in their bronze-medal match loss to Spain in Varna, Bulgaria.
Pink, a three-time Grammy Award winner, said on Twitter she would cover the fine, berating the organization and encouraging the players to carry on covering up.
"I'm VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR "uniform"" the "Get the Party Started" singer tweeted.
"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."
Norwegian sports officials had already voiced their unhappiness with the ruling.
"In 2021, it shouldn't even be an issue," said Eirik Sordahl, president of the Norwegian Volleyball Federation.
Clothing has long been a bone of contention in beach sports, with some women players finding bikini bottoms degrading or impractical.
The Norwegian team thanked supporters on social media, after an international outcry at the fine.
And the EHF, ackowledging the angry reaction to its decision, said it had donated the fine to "a major international sports foundation which supports equality for women and girls in sports."
While bikinis have not been compulsory for beach volleyball players since 2012, International Handball Federation rules state "female athletes must wear bikini bottoms" and that these must have "a close fit", be "cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg" and a side depth of no more than 10 centimeters.
Male players wear shorts.
"It's completely ridiculous," Norway's Minister for Culture and Sports, Abid Raja, tweeted after last Monday's ruling. "What a change of attitude is needed in the macho and conservative international world of sport."
Ahead of the tournament, Norway asked the EHF for permission to play in shorts, but were told that breaches of the rules were punishable by fines.
They complied, until their last match.
"The EHF is committed to bring this topic forward in the interest of its member federations. However, it must also be said that a change of the rules can only happen at IHF level," EHF spokesman Andrew Barringer said.
© 2021 AFP
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