French sprinter barred from own Olympic ceremony for wearing hijab

French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla has been excluded from the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics due to her hijab, according to her recent Instagram post.

The French Olympic Committee is reportedly working with her to find a solution that aligns with the team's secular requirements. Sylla, a 26-year-old member of France's 400-meter women's and mixed relay teams, expressed her disappointment on social media.

"You are selected for the Olympics, organized in your country, but you can't participate in the opening ceremony because you wear a headscarf," she wrote. France upholds a strict principle of " laicite ", or "secularism."

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David Lappartient, president of the French Olympic Committee, explained on Wednesday that French Olympians must adhere to the secular principles that apply to public sector workers in France, which includes a ban on hijabs.

"It's perhaps sometimes not understandable in other countries in the world, but it's part of our DNA here in France," he said. Lappartient confirmed that discussions are ongoing with Sylla to find a solution that respects both the French Olympic team's secular requirements and the athlete's "legitimate wish that her beliefs are respected."

"I have no doubt that a solution can be found," he said. "We hope that everyone can take part in the opening ceremony."

Sylla's Instagram post has sparked a wave of support from fellow sports stars, including French Olympic team members who expressed their shock. Marie-Julie Bonnin, the pole vaulter, was stunned, commenting "I can't believe it" on Sylla's post, while her relay teammate Muhammad Abdallah Kounta chimed in with "liberty, equality, fraternity they say. Please share this. This is not normal."

Previously, Sylla has competed wearing her black headscarf at major events like the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, and even at the World Relays in May 2024. For the opening ceremony on Friday, the French squad will be decked out in custom outfits by Berluti, the high-end fashion house under the LVMH umbrella.

Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera has highlighted LVMH's creative efforts to ensure "inventive with solutions so that everyone feels comfortable." The debate over Sylla's hijab came to the forefront prior to the European Championships in Rome earlier this year. The compromise?

A blue cap that meshed with the team's uniform, which Oudea-Castera felt "respected our principles." This cap included an attached strip of fabric for Sylla to cover her hair. Whether she'll don a similar accessory in Paris remains to be seen.

"We want to follow the same logic. That's why we're progressing in discussions with LVMH and Berluti. I am confident," stated Oudea-Castera.