Norway’s Beach Handball Team Penalized for Defying Bikini Rule


Update: The International Handball Federation has updated its rules so that women will no longer be required to play in bikini bottoms.

In a striking stance against antiquated uniform regulations, Norway’s women’s beach handball team faced fines totaling €1,500 after players chose to wear shorts instead of the mandatory bikini bottoms during a match at the European Beach Handball Championships in Varna, Bulgaria.


The International Handball Federation (IHF) mandates that women wear bikini bottoms with a “close fit” and a sharply angled cut at the hip, with side widths not exceeding four inches. In contrast, male athletes are permitted to don shorts up to four inches above the knee, provided they are not excessively loose.

Jessica Rockstroh, a spokesperson for the IHF, admitted that the rationale behind this dress code remains unclear. “We are investigating it internally,” she commented, noting that the organization is currently focused on the Olympics and has yet to prioritize revisiting uniform policies. Rockstroh added that no formal complaints had been filed previously, aside from Norway’s, while teams in regions like South America reportedly favor the bikini attire.

Norway’s team had deliberately planned to challenge the regulation, aiming to underscore the disparity between men's and women’s sports uniforms. “I don’t understand why we can’t play in shorts,” remarked Martine Welfler, one of the Norwegian athletes. “In today’s world, with so much emphasis on body shaming, athletes should be allowed to wear more if they wish.”



Each player was fined €150, though the Norwegian Handball Federation committed to covering the fines. The Federation’s president, Kare Geir Lio, revealed that Norway had been protesting the bikini bottom rule since 2006, with no changes enacted thus far. “It’s frustrating,” he said, “nothing has been addressed.”

The incident reignites the long-standing debate over the double standards in women's sports uniforms. Over the years, female athletes across multiple disciplines—from track and field to tennis—have voiced frustrations about being required to wear more revealing attire than their male counterparts. In 2011, for instance, the Badminton World Federation controversially mandated skirts or dresses for women at the elite level, in an effort to boost interest in the sport.

Women have faced fines for uniforms deemed too long or too short, with no consistency across sports. Just recently, at the English track championships, Paralympian Olivia Breen was informed by an official that her competition briefs were considered inappropriate, further fueling discussions around uniform regulations in women’s sports.

“I was simply chatting with my teammate, elated, when an official approached me,” Ms. Breen recounted during an interview on Tuesday. “She said, ‘Olivia, may I have a word?’ and then remarked, ‘I believe your briefs are too revealing, and you should consider getting a new pair of shorts.’”

Taken aback, Ms. Breen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “My initial reaction was, ‘Are you serious?’” she said. “But she responded, ‘No, I’m not joking. You should genuinely think about purchasing a pair of shorts.’”



This exchange left Ms. Breen and her teammate utterly speechless. “I was livid,” she added. “We shouldn’t be dictated to about what we can or cannot wear. Why make such an unnecessary comment?”

Kare Geir Lio, the head of Norway's Handball Federation, echoed her sentiment, asserting there was no valid reason to enforce bikini bottoms for female athletes. “Women deserve the right to wear attire they feel comfortable in, especially for optimal performance in their sport,” he stated.

Back in 2006, Norway’s federation sent a letter to the International Handball Federation (IHF), emphasizing that mandating bikini bottoms was culturally insensitive for some countries and could cause discomfort for those unwilling to reveal so much of their body. The letter, as reported by The New York Times, also argued that goalkeepers, who utilize their entire body to block shots, should be allowed less-revealing uniforms in handball, a sport blending aspects of soccer and basketball.

Thomas Schoeneich, spokesperson for the European Handball Federation, noted that the organization was merely enforcing rules laid down by the IHF. “Any changes must come from the International Handball Federation itself,” he remarked.

In April, Norway's Handball Federation proposed amending these uniform regulations for women at a European Handball Federation meeting. This proposal was expected to be discussed by the IHF in November, according to Schoeneich.

Norwegian player Ms. Welfler revealed that some athletes in Norway had opted not to compete at an international level due to the uniform requirements. (Within Norway, players are allowed to wear shorts during domestic tournaments.)



“It’s disheartening because it means the most talented players might not compete,” she lamented, adding that female athletes were growing weary of the constant focus on their minimal attire. “The emphasis should be on the game itself.”

Janice Forsyth, an associate professor of sociology at Western University in Canada, who once directed the university’s International Center for Olympic Studies, weighed in. She explained that in sports like track and swimming, certain uniforms can give athletes a slight advantage. However, she refuted the idea that beach handball players would perform better in bikinis than in shorts. “Wearing less clothing doesn’t make athletes jump higher or move quicker in the sand,” she asserted.

“I don’t see how that argument holds any validity,” Forsyth concluded. “The notion that less clothing makes women superior athletes is simply absurd.”

This ongoing issue highlights a glaring contradiction in the treatment of female athletes. While the focus should remain on their skills, endurance, and performance, unnecessary scrutiny is placed on their attire. The debate around uniforms often shifts the narrative away from the true essence of sport and veers into archaic gender expectations that many believe should no longer hold sway in modern athletic competitions.

Norway’s stand echoes a broader movement seen in recent years, where athletes and advocates call for equality not just in pay and representation, but in the fundamental rights of comfort and choice in how they present themselves on the global stage. Many argue that athletes, especially women, should have autonomy over their bodies and what they wear without the fear of penalties or judgment.

While some organizations continue to enforce rigid, and arguably outdated, dress codes, pressure from players, fans, and advocacy groups is building momentum toward change. If teams like Norway’s continue to challenge these rules, it could spark a ripple effect that forces governing bodies to rethink their regulations. Already, conversations are shifting in a way that may eventually lead to a more progressive approach to uniforms in women’s sports, one that respects athletes' personal comfort, cultural preferences, and the core principle of fairness.

As the sports world progresses, more questions arise: Will other nations follow Norway’s example? How long will governing bodies like the International Handball Federation maintain these strict guidelines? And ultimately, when will the focus return to what truly matters—the athletic brilliance, dedication, and passion displayed by these women on the field, rather than the clothes they are required to wear?

#BeachHandball #SportsUniformControversy #EqualityInSports #WomensRightsInSports #AthleteEmpowerment #HandballRules #NorwayHandball #FemaleAthletes #GenderEqualityInSports #SportsDressCode #BikiniBan #SportingStandards #UniformDebate #BeachHandballChampionships #InternationalHandballFederation #UniformEquality #SportswearDebate #FemaleAthleteVoices #WomenInSports #FairPlayForAll #AthleteDressCode #HandballFines #SportswearRegulations #BikiniVsShorts #EqualSportsRights #AthleteAdvocacy #BeachSportsAttire #SportingUniformRules#WomenInHandball #SportsDressCodeChange