Pink Offers To Pay ‘Sexist’ Fine For Women’s Handball Team Who Wore Shorts To A Game Instead Of Bikini Bottoms
The European Beach Handball Championships have ended and the Danish team has defended their title and won the gold medals. However, the championships were clouded by a little bit of a scandal when the women on Norway’s team protested against the uniform requirements and wore shorts instead of bikinis during one of their matches.
The Norwegian team later was penalized with a €1,500 ($1,766) fine for inappropriate attire that doesn’t follow the International Handball Federation’s uniform requirements. The whole internet was furious and stunned at how these women were treated. People were in full support of the athletes and the story caught the attention of the world-famous singer Pink.
More info: Twitter
The story of Norway’s Women’s Beach Handball team being fined for wearing shorts was talked about everywhere on the internet
Image credits: handballandslagene
Bored Panda covered the story of how the Norwegian team were feeling uncomfortable with the required uniform but were warned that if they wore anything else, they would be fined or even disqualified.
Despite knowing this and in order to make a point, the athletes showed up wearing shorts that made them feel like they were performing their best and in the end, the European Handball Federation (EHF) issued a €1,500 ($1,766) for the team. You can read more about this if you click here.
Image credits: norwaybeachhandballwomen
The singer Pink was one of the people that expressed her support for the athletes
Image credits: BrotherDarksoul
This incident was talked about all over social media and it was only a matter of time until it exited the sport world and famous people started speaking up and expressing their support.
One of those people is singer and songwriter Pink. A couple of days ago, on Sunday, July 25, Pink shared a tweet that said, “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 called the rule about the handball players’ uniform sexist and thinks that the European Handball Federation should be fined instead
Image credits: Pink
The tweet was liked nearly 30k times and the number is going up by the second. Most people are in support of the athletes, although there are some that disagree and think that it’s not that hard to follow the rules.
The Norwegian players saw Pink’s message and appreciated the support
Image credits: norwaybeachhandballwomen
Maybe you wouldn’t consider a celebrity saying what everyone already is thinking a big deal, but for the athletes, every bit of support counts. What is more, Pink can reach a different audience, so she is further spreading awareness about this issue.
On their Instagram, the Norwegian athletes shared a message thanking people for being on their side: “Thank you so much for all the support ❤️🥺 We really appreciate all the love we have received🙏🏼 You’re the best.”
They have also seen Pink’s tweet and appreciated all the attention that is brought to the issue as the Norwegian team is not only fighting for themselves, but for every woman athlete that has to suffer.
The EHF is taking small steps to change the situation and donated the fine to a foundation helping to promote equality in sports
Image credits: Raimond Spekking
The gesture of offering to pay the fine because she believes it is wrong to give it in the first place is a nice gesture from Pink, but the fine has already been paid.
But it turns out, the EHF donated the money to a foundation “which supports equality for women and girls in sports,” they wrote on their page.
The Federation admits that the situation has received a lot of attention and they understand the issue but they also say they can’t bring about such a change immediately. And for now, the best they can do is to support a good cause.
Image credits: norwaybeachhandballwomen
The European Handball Federation also stated that they are not the ones that created the rules and that change must happen at the international level. But the EHF President Michael Wiederer says, “We are committed though to doing all we can to influence this.”
He also added, “I would also like to underline that it was never the players who were fined, but solely—and according to the regulations—the Norwegian Handball Federation.”
The Norwegian team considered the donation to be the right move
Image credits: norwaybeachhandballwomen
The Norwegian athletes acknowledged that the EHF donating the money is one step in the right direction. They shared the article the Federation posted and wrote in the captions, “Babysteps👣 It feels so good to know that we have EHFs support, and we believe that a change is in motion🌈 We can not wait💪🏻 Thank you for all the support—you are amazing 💛”
Have you read the previous story? What was your reaction to the whole situation? Comment down below what you think of Pink’s statement and the Federation’s decision to donate the money!
Most of the people on Pink’s Twitter saw the uniform requirement to be sexist
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The excuse from the Federation "they can’t bring about such a change immediately." Why? It sounds so odd, they are basically saying "we'd love to have equality and all, but we also want these girls in bikinis, just for right now..." Why? How come we aren't hearing something along the lines of "Effective immediately..." they are, after all, the ones that made the rule and could act quickly to make a change.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. I believe it's as simple as putting on a pair of shorts, right?
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There are good reasons for mandatory dresscodes in sports: equal conditions (e.g. a racesuit providing less drag), avoiding injuries (lose shirts in contact sports), and visibility to referees and watchers. Exposing flesh is not among them. Any dresscode that makes differences between genders is to be questioned!
It is because they want to bring more male viewers and I think that is sexist and idiotic.
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Bravo to the team for standing by their convictions and to Pink for supporting them.
That bottom comment where the person mentions who invented the bikini. I found that the modern bikini was invented by Louis Réard, a man!
Ditto for the inventor of the unikini/monokini - Rudi Gernreich.
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A bunch of old fat men decided that women's sports was so trivial that they've changed it into wank material for themselves. Yep. Misogyny in the classic sense.
I vote for making those two guys wear Speedos and forcing them to roll around on the beach. Let them experience first hand what it is like to have sand embedded in their nether regions. Even Burt Lancaster complained about it after filming that scene with Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity.
Load More Replies... Gotta love the absolutely tone deaf comments from men included at the end of the list. I wish men understood how awful these fines make them look especially when you see how tiny and form fitting the shorts the ladies decided to wear are. It like deciding they need to pay nearly $2k because the men didn’t get to stare at their ass during competition.
I don’t even understand why it matters. Personally I wouldn’t want to deal with essentially underwear riding up my buttcrack every time I were to jump or squat so shorts would be a lot better. I do feel the uniform requirements are sexist especially since the men don’t have to wear Speedo’s
People who get mad at women not wanting to be exposed....how exactly is it hurting you?
Coz creepy men don't get the view they want. That's how it "hurts" them
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"The Federation admits that the situation has received a lot of attention and they understand the issue but they can’t bring about such a change immediately." That's just plain BS. They are not deciding over life or death, they only have to make their dresscode less sexist and there's absolutely no reason why it can't be changed immediately.
Seriously though, look at the difference between the men and women's dress "code". That is right messed up. I hate this current 'cancel culture' but this s**t I support fully.
That's very nice of Pink, but I miss a reaction of the male team. They could have offered them their shorts and t-shirts, or dress like them, or at least support their women partners.
Why don't they have men's beach volleyball, with mandatory tiny speedos and oiled abs? Even it out, Olympics committee!
I agree! Also, women swimmers should be required to wear incredibly skimpy outfits, just as the men do. Source: I was a competitive swimmer, and nothing forces confidence on you quicker then standing in front of hundreds of people wearing a scrap of cloth that covers 8% of your body.
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I recently watched Pink's new documentary and found out what an incredible person she is. A wonderful mother, wife and human in general. I don't even need to mention her music/performances! Wow! This is someone I would like to call a friend.
I despise this sexualization of sports, and everything really. Shorts and shirt isn't going to give anyone an edge. Let these people wear what they want.
"The Federation admits that the situation has received a lot of attention and they understand the issue but they also say they can’t bring about such a change immediately. And for now, the best they can do is to support a good cause." Seriously? How hard is it to say, "From this day on wear what you want as a team as long as it is safe." Done. WTF is wrong with these men?
umm both my daughters played volleyball, they're called volley ball shorts for a reason. They don't have to wear friggin bikini bottoms. And don't give me that crap about freedom to move and all that, because dudes wear board shorts and they do just fine. so stupid.
No one should pay the fine. Flat out refuse. The issue isn't who pays, the issue is paying the fine at all. The women should never have been fined in the first place and the ruling needs to be overturned and the dress code revised.
It bothers me that the organization says, "But we didn't make the rule!" Maybe not, but you did choose to enforce it.
Load More Replies... I'm sick of having to look at any "uniform" that distracts from the actual athletic event and never understood why it was necessary. I'm sick of anyone assuming that because I'm a guy I'll buy a product or watch a sporting event because of T & A plastered all over it. I won't buy it and I won't watch it.
I assume the men have to were speedos or they are going to be fined?
They have to pay for wearing practical shorts instead of unconfortable bikinis. Great. It's sexist, not "sexist".
"Were they men who invented bikinis?" Um...yes. Look at History of the Bikini on wikipedia. Sheesh.
Way to go, Pink; thank you. Zack and Szaguldo Cirkusz, you are sexist, idiotic perverts.
because the term 'sexist' is being used as an adjective for the noun 'fine'. the fine isn't sexist. it's the rule that's sexist. (notice people aren't asking for the fine to change, they're asking for the rule to change). Put another way: a $20 bill is only a form of currency, whether it pays for illicit drugs or baby formula.
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I am a hetero male. As much as I enjoy viewing the female form, there should NEVER be mandatory uniform rules except where required for safety. I will watch or not watch a sport based on THE SPORT.
Uniforms have a purpose- they allow you to quickly identify players and teammates (for both the athletes and the audience). Think basketball or hockey.
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I have aggravated for years women had to wear shorts up their butts and men could cover up everything! SEXISM that was never brought up on TV!!
Zacks reply tho. Like the women aren’t gonna stop doing what they love because of sexist men and pedophiles. The sexist people should stop forcing women to wear revealing clothes for no reason. It doesn’t help them play. Some may not be comfortable with wearing it. Just let them wear what they want!
Somehow I get the feeling the Federation is more afraid of losing ratings when the men watching JUST to see girls in bikini's, stop watching. I'm not sure it would have been less inflammatory to point this out explicitly, but doing it this way was just bone-headed and dishonest.
Don't confuse handball with beach handball. Not the same thing. The Danes didn't win at beach handball but at regular handball (the mens team) where the outfits are not bikinis for women. But it is about time the outfits are changed in a lot of sports. The German gymnast team are using unitards to make their female athletes feel more comfortable.
Who the f.. cares what they wear? The same as in gymnastics. Thing MUST change and WILL change
Nobody should pay the fine - the ones who brought on the fines should be charged with sexual discrimination if anything, as this is based solely on sex and is discriminatory, as it doesn't apply to men. Cant change the rules immediately? Don't think your rules apply in the first place, as they violate the sexual discrimination law.
We play beach volleyball on the beach in a swimsuit and none of us mind :) Of course, someone likes bikini someone likes shorts or leggings. But the ball has completely different properties when in contact with leather or other materials. Some of the material absorbs some of the kinetic energy, so fast balls are better received or blocked on the net, so length and the type of fabric could be a strategic advantage. Therefore, a systemic adjustment of the rules is necessary and with regard to these and other facts is not possible play in a top competition in beach volleyball with different lengths of clothing. Therefore, the decision to resolve the changes for the next Olympics is reasonable and there is nothing sexist about that decision.
About time! There are a few other "uniforms" that are due for this upgrade also.
Those bikinis are so tiny and must feel uncomfortable wearing them among fully clothed ppl
Any man who uses the word "females" to describe women is an asshole.
There is sport and there is money.They are barely dressed for the male viewers,atracts attentions,attracts money.So ask who are sponsors?Where are they?Why those companies do not make a stand?Who knows,maybe "dresscodes" are in contracts..Feel sorry for the girls as they are not watched for sports..
Lol what? P!nk is supporting those women by paying the fine so the players don't have to...
Load More Replies... Yeah but the uniform shouldn't be "Show half your asscheeks to the world so creepy men can have a nice view" it could be something more reasonable. No one is trying to do away with a dress code completely, they're just trying to get an equal dress code that isn't super revealing
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If your idea of fun is watching the bodies of women who don't consent to having their bodies watched then no, you're not allowed to have fun at their expense anymore.
Load More Replies... The excuse from the Federation "they can’t bring about such a change immediately." Why? It sounds so odd, they are basically saying "we'd love to have equality and all, but we also want these girls in bikinis, just for right now..." Why? How come we aren't hearing something along the lines of "Effective immediately..." they are, after all, the ones that made the rule and could act quickly to make a change.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. I believe it's as simple as putting on a pair of shorts, right?
Load More Replies... There are good reasons for mandatory dresscodes in sports: equal conditions (e.g. a racesuit providing less drag), avoiding injuries (lose shirts in contact sports), and visibility to referees and watchers. Exposing flesh is not among them. Any dresscode that makes differences between genders is to be questioned!
It is because they want to bring more male viewers and I think that is sexist and idiotic.
Load More Replies... Bravo to the team for standing by their convictions and to Pink for supporting them.
That bottom comment where the person mentions who invented the bikini. I found that the modern bikini was invented by Louis Réard, a man!
Ditto for the inventor of the unikini/monokini - Rudi Gernreich.
Load More Replies... A bunch of old fat men decided that women's sports was so trivial that they've changed it into wank material for themselves. Yep. Misogyny in the classic sense.
I vote for making those two guys wear Speedos and forcing them to roll around on the beach. Let them experience first hand what it is like to have sand embedded in their nether regions. Even Burt Lancaster complained about it after filming that scene with Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity.
Load More Replies... Gotta love the absolutely tone deaf comments from men included at the end of the list. I wish men understood how awful these fines make them look especially when you see how tiny and form fitting the shorts the ladies decided to wear are. It like deciding they need to pay nearly $2k because the men didn’t get to stare at their ass during competition.
I don’t even understand why it matters. Personally I wouldn’t want to deal with essentially underwear riding up my buttcrack every time I were to jump or squat so shorts would be a lot better. I do feel the uniform requirements are sexist especially since the men don’t have to wear Speedo’s
People who get mad at women not wanting to be exposed....how exactly is it hurting you?
Coz creepy men don't get the view they want. That's how it "hurts" them
Load More Replies... "The Federation admits that the situation has received a lot of attention and they understand the issue but they can’t bring about such a change immediately." That's just plain BS. They are not deciding over life or death, they only have to make their dresscode less sexist and there's absolutely no reason why it can't be changed immediately.
Seriously though, look at the difference between the men and women's dress "code". That is right messed up. I hate this current 'cancel culture' but this s**t I support fully.
That's very nice of Pink, but I miss a reaction of the male team. They could have offered them their shorts and t-shirts, or dress like them, or at least support their women partners.
Why don't they have men's beach volleyball, with mandatory tiny speedos and oiled abs? Even it out, Olympics committee!
I agree! Also, women swimmers should be required to wear incredibly skimpy outfits, just as the men do. Source: I was a competitive swimmer, and nothing forces confidence on you quicker then standing in front of hundreds of people wearing a scrap of cloth that covers 8% of your body.
Load More Replies... I recently watched Pink's new documentary and found out what an incredible person she is. A wonderful mother, wife and human in general. I don't even need to mention her music/performances! Wow! This is someone I would like to call a friend.
I despise this sexualization of sports, and everything really. Shorts and shirt isn't going to give anyone an edge. Let these people wear what they want.
"The Federation admits that the situation has received a lot of attention and they understand the issue but they also say they can’t bring about such a change immediately. And for now, the best they can do is to support a good cause." Seriously? How hard is it to say, "From this day on wear what you want as a team as long as it is safe." Done. WTF is wrong with these men?
umm both my daughters played volleyball, they're called volley ball shorts for a reason. They don't have to wear friggin bikini bottoms. And don't give me that crap about freedom to move and all that, because dudes wear board shorts and they do just fine. so stupid.
No one should pay the fine. Flat out refuse. The issue isn't who pays, the issue is paying the fine at all. The women should never have been fined in the first place and the ruling needs to be overturned and the dress code revised.
It bothers me that the organization says, "But we didn't make the rule!" Maybe not, but you did choose to enforce it.
Load More Replies... I'm sick of having to look at any "uniform" that distracts from the actual athletic event and never understood why it was necessary. I'm sick of anyone assuming that because I'm a guy I'll buy a product or watch a sporting event because of T & A plastered all over it. I won't buy it and I won't watch it.
I assume the men have to were speedos or they are going to be fined?
They have to pay for wearing practical shorts instead of unconfortable bikinis. Great. It's sexist, not "sexist".
"Were they men who invented bikinis?" Um...yes. Look at History of the Bikini on wikipedia. Sheesh.
Way to go, Pink; thank you. Zack and Szaguldo Cirkusz, you are sexist, idiotic perverts.
because the term 'sexist' is being used as an adjective for the noun 'fine'. the fine isn't sexist. it's the rule that's sexist. (notice people aren't asking for the fine to change, they're asking for the rule to change). Put another way: a $20 bill is only a form of currency, whether it pays for illicit drugs or baby formula.
Load More Replies... I am a hetero male. As much as I enjoy viewing the female form, there should NEVER be mandatory uniform rules except where required for safety. I will watch or not watch a sport based on THE SPORT.
Uniforms have a purpose- they allow you to quickly identify players and teammates (for both the athletes and the audience). Think basketball or hockey.
Load More Replies... I have aggravated for years women had to wear shorts up their butts and men could cover up everything! SEXISM that was never brought up on TV!!
Zacks reply tho. Like the women aren’t gonna stop doing what they love because of sexist men and pedophiles. The sexist people should stop forcing women to wear revealing clothes for no reason. It doesn’t help them play. Some may not be comfortable with wearing it. Just let them wear what they want!
Somehow I get the feeling the Federation is more afraid of losing ratings when the men watching JUST to see girls in bikini's, stop watching. I'm not sure it would have been less inflammatory to point this out explicitly, but doing it this way was just bone-headed and dishonest.
Don't confuse handball with beach handball. Not the same thing. The Danes didn't win at beach handball but at regular handball (the mens team) where the outfits are not bikinis for women. But it is about time the outfits are changed in a lot of sports. The German gymnast team are using unitards to make their female athletes feel more comfortable.
Who the f.. cares what they wear? The same as in gymnastics. Thing MUST change and WILL change
Nobody should pay the fine - the ones who brought on the fines should be charged with sexual discrimination if anything, as this is based solely on sex and is discriminatory, as it doesn't apply to men. Cant change the rules immediately? Don't think your rules apply in the first place, as they violate the sexual discrimination law.
We play beach volleyball on the beach in a swimsuit and none of us mind :) Of course, someone likes bikini someone likes shorts or leggings. But the ball has completely different properties when in contact with leather or other materials. Some of the material absorbs some of the kinetic energy, so fast balls are better received or blocked on the net, so length and the type of fabric could be a strategic advantage. Therefore, a systemic adjustment of the rules is necessary and with regard to these and other facts is not possible play in a top competition in beach volleyball with different lengths of clothing. Therefore, the decision to resolve the changes for the next Olympics is reasonable and there is nothing sexist about that decision.
About time! There are a few other "uniforms" that are due for this upgrade also.
Those bikinis are so tiny and must feel uncomfortable wearing them among fully clothed ppl
Any man who uses the word "females" to describe women is an asshole.
There is sport and there is money.They are barely dressed for the male viewers,atracts attentions,attracts money.So ask who are sponsors?Where are they?Why those companies do not make a stand?Who knows,maybe "dresscodes" are in contracts..Feel sorry for the girls as they are not watched for sports..
Lol what? P!nk is supporting those women by paying the fine so the players don't have to...
Load More Replies... Yeah but the uniform shouldn't be "Show half your asscheeks to the world so creepy men can have a nice view" it could be something more reasonable. No one is trying to do away with a dress code completely, they're just trying to get an equal dress code that isn't super revealing
Load More Replies... If your idea of fun is watching the bodies of women who don't consent to having their bodies watched then no, you're not allowed to have fun at their expense anymore.
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