Indian Olympic Association Shuns Sari for Asian Games

The Indian Olympic Association has decided to leave out traditional saris from their female athletes’ dress code for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang.

The Times of India reports that the attire will be replaced by blue trousers and navy blue blazers, similar to the men’s dress.

The IOA took the decision after receiving feedback from female athletes following the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, where women wore trousers and a blazer during the ceremonies rather than the usual combination of a sari with a blazer on top, Insidethegames wrote.

“We have decided that the two ceremonies at the Asiad [Asian Games] will see the entire contingent maintaining a uniform dress code,” IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said. “The women athletes will sport the same attire they wore during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.”

At the time of taking the decision prior to Gold Coast 2018, the IOA stated its belief that it would be inconvenient for female athletes to remain in a sari for the entirety of the opening ceremony.