Cheerleaders in Istanbul cover up to respect Iranian sensibilities
Although cheerleaders at U.S.-Iran World Championship basketball match wore leggings and T-shirts, some Iran officials still left the arena before their routine.
By ReutersISTANBUL - Cheerleaders donned black leggings and white T-shirts for a World Championship basketball match between Iran and the United States in Istanbul on Wednesday to respect cultural sensitivities. But some Iranian officials still left the arena shortly before their routine began.
At previous matches, officials had stood up and turned their backs.
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Cheerleaders at the FIBA Basketball World Championship game between the U.S. and Iran in Istanbul September 1, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Cheerleaders were missing altogether from Turkey's last two matches in Ankara, raising eyebrows in the overwhelmingly Muslim but officially secular nation, particularly as scantily-clad cheerleaders had been present at other matches.
Four teams of dancers have been entertaining fans in the Turkish host venues of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri, and Patrick Baumann, secretary general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA ), said "special arrangements" had been made with their dress on Wednesday.
"We want entertainment to be part of the basketball game," he told a news conference. "If it needs a little bit of adjustment, that is fine with us. It is a balance between respecting the culture and making sure basketball delivers all the pace, excitement and entertainment that goes with the World Championship."
The dancing troupes come from Ukraine, Russia and Lithuania. The local organizing committees are in charge of arranging the entertainment, but FIBA has to approve it, a FIBA spokesman said.
The Ankara troupe, named the Red Foxes and hailing from Ukraine, was absent from both Turkey's match against Greece on Tuesday and its match against Russia on Sunday. The Russia match was attended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, who wears the Muslim headscarf.
A spokeswoman for Turkey's Sport and Youth directorate said she was not aware of any ban on cheerleaders at Turkish games. A source close to the situation said, however, that Turkish government authorities had asked informally that cheerleaders not be present at games attended by officials of the ruling AK Party, which has roots in political Islam. The party rejects the Islamist label and points to its liberal economic and political reforms.
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They turned their backs to hide the wood but they should be respected for good values. It seems Iranian leaders are criticized no matter what they do. If one of the mullahs saved a baby the press would say "Iranian saves child who might become Hitler".
What's this Iran business, this middle age business, this if we don't allow women to show their skin, it must mean that we are primitive! It wasn't so long ago that women did "cover more", and even if Josephine Baker's debut on the Paris stage hardly modest, she knew enough to dress like a lady on the street. Only in Israel do the talkbackers decry the "modesty squad", quickly forgetting how, in Europe, most women dress respectably like ladies, not like . . . (expletive deleted). It wasn't that long ago, either , that cheer leaders dress more modestly. How quickly we forget how our parents and granparents. dressed, and behaved/ in public.
I guess they wont be accepting any invites to our "cultural" events either what a pity.But I believe the Dalal & Bathsheva reserve ticket sales to only Ramat Aviv penthouse residents anyway.I cant wait to see the 4oth anniversay salute to "Kibbutznicks In Their Underwear Just Love to Dance " I never get tired of it !! All proceeds are going to the Shimon Center charities including the "Assi Dayan Youth Center"
So so Iranian mullah types who cannot see more that a woman's eyes before becoming consumed and lead by his johnson walked out. Apparently the Persian players could handle it. No reports of rape on the game floor. The next round of games, the cheerleaders should show up dressed for Madison Square Garden or the Forum in LA. They'll be so distracted, the score will be 250-35.
in the Englightened West, Josephine Baker and Sally Rand shocked the audiences "on the stage", but when they changed into their street clothes, they dressed like "ladies", to the nines, except for more of their legs than Haredim would allow, perhaps. The antics of the some of the recent crop of Hollywood stars who go around in "undress", is a recent phenomenon. Our kibbutznikim, well, preceded them so that the men, and the the women, go around mostly exposed, except to cover their private parts. It's a recent thing. Heck, even when Marlyn Monroe posed, she was fully dressed. So . . . did all the of the "sexpots" of the Silver Screen not so long ago. Anything more was considered pornography. You, I fear, raised on Playboy and Hustler hidden away from the eyes of you parents, imagine that its kosher to like at nearly naked women because current standards of "dress", or, "undress", if you will, have replaced what was considered acceptable.
But with nuclear bombs....
The Iranians are beating the Jews at modesty. big time. G-d loves people who put modesty into action. Watch out, Am Yisrael!
A Honest Ortodox (I assume jewish)! Modesty shows faith in G_D.
Not the same thing.
Then they could have had an orgy
It's a lot of hard work and dedication and fun to do.
Whatever we think of the regime in Tehran (and I am certainly NOT a fan of them) - but they do not stone females for being cheerleaders, even if they would not put on the Hijab. At most they would be fined a sum and get a warning. Not be stoned. Try to be serious in your comments.