Blazers and trousers over sari at the international sporting games: IOC

The regular Indian contingent women attire at the international games, Sari, is going to change its dress code to blazers and trousers. According to The Indian Express ‘the entire Indian contingent, both men, and women, participating in the Commonwealth Games will wear navy blue blazers and trousers’ as said by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast, Australia on April 4.

Rajeev Mehta, IOA secretary General told that the decision was a matter of comfort for the athletes and was based on the feedback from athletes who had said that wearing Sari for longer duration is inconvenient for them.

According to Mehta, opening ceremonies at such events usually, run into hours and the fact that the athletes need help to wear it only complicates things further. “So, this time we have decided that both men and women will have the similar attire for the ceremony at Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Being the supreme topic of discussion, the Indian contingent’s attire at the opening ceremony of the biggest game events, is now a serious concern. Previously, several women athletes complained about the dress codes, wearing a blazer over a sari. At the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Indian women fashioned blue blazers with yellow saris.

Heena Sidhu, the Olympian shooter, who will be part of the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games 2018, is completely pleasing with the IOC’s decision over dress code. According to Heena, blazers and trousers would be more convenient and also will save time. She even suggested the combination of blazers on skirts, to look more feminine.

Meanwhile, few other athletes are not very convincing with IOC’s decision. Ace shuttler Jwala Gutta found that wearing Sari during major sporting events is not a problem and is beautiful and elegant. However, Jwala noted that wearing sari is not comfortable for many and she ‘feels for them’. Yet, she would prefer sari over trousers on given a choice. She said, “It’s just about personal choice.”