IOC Allows Hijab in Olympic Village, Overriding French Ban for 2024 Paris Games

"For the Olympic Village, the IOC rules apply. There is no restriction on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural clothing," an IOC spokesperson said. The Olympic Village serves as a temporary residence for thousands of athletes during the Games and offers common spaces such as dining halls and recreational facilities.

The IOC’s decision follows the statements of the French Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Invited on the set of Dimanche en politique on France 3, she affirmed that France remains attached "to a strict regime of secularism." "This means the prohibition of any form of proselytism, the absolute neutrality of the public service," explained the Minister of Sports.

The French minister recalled that the French position was based on a decision of the Council of State. In June, the supreme administrative court in France rejected the request of the Hijabeuses - a collective of Muslim players who were demanding the cancellation of Article 1 of the French Football Federation (FFF) regulations which has prohibited since 2016 the wearing of any "conspicuous political, philosophical, religious or trade union sign or outfit."

On Tuesday, the press service of the Ministry of Sports declared to CNN that Castéra had "simply recalled the law". "In accordance" with the decision of the Council of State, "the French teams are subject to the principle of neutrality of the public service, from the moment they are selected for this purpose in all national and international competitions," the ministry explained. And to add: "Thus, the wearing of the headscarf (or any other accessory or outfit manifesting a religious affiliation) is not possible when representing France in a national or international sports competition".