All women competitors must dress modestly, be accompanied by a male guardian and not mix with men during the Games, said Prince Nawaf bin Faisal.u00a0Saudi sportswomen may only take part if they do so “wearing suitable clothing that complies with sharia” (Islamic law) and “the athlete’s guardian agrees and attends with her,” he said.

“There must also be no mixing with men during the Games,” he added. “The athlete and her guardian must pledge not to break these conditions,” he said. The Saudi embassy in London issued a statement announcing that Saudi women would be allowed to compete for the first time in this year’s Olympics. The Saudi Olympic Committee will “oversee participation of women athletes who qualify,” it said.u00a0Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei are the only three countries never to have sent women athletes to the Olympics. But Qatar had already announced it will send a four-woman team to London.