Outrage as Olympic swimming pool bans women from ‘men only’ sessions for ‘cultural reasons’ with bathers required to cover ‘navel to knee’

A swimming pool has introduced gender segregated sessions with bathers required to cover up from “navel to knee” for “cultural reasons”.

The Inspire Sports Village in Stopsley, Luton, Beds., built using taxpayer-funded Olympic money, will give men exclusive access to the larger 50 metre competitive pool on Friday evenings, while women will be able to use the smaller 20 metre community pool.

On Facebook, the gender-segregated sessions were advertised saying “Alhamdulliah swimming is back” – a phrase which thanks God for his blessings.

Posters promoting the event, which were implemented last Friday, say that “navel to knee must be covered”.

According to the 2011 census, a quarter of the population in Luton are Muslim, making Islam the second most common religion in the town after Christianity.

I like swimming in the competition pool after a hard week at work on Fridays and now I can’t without any discussion and very little advanced noticeFemale swimmer

One female swimmer, who asked not to be named, said she was frustrated by the decision. “The Friday night session for everyone is now closed because of the listed men-only sessions.

“I have asked a team leader about it – as there are no managers at the weekend – and he said it was a ‘cultural thing’.

“Why has one section of the community in Luton been allowed to dominate and take over the best pool in the borough?

“I like swimming in the competition pool after a hard week at work on Fridays and now I can’t without any discussion and very little advanced notice.”

An Active Luton spokesman defended the move and explained that on Friday evenings, Inspire offered gender-specific swimming sessions, although men had access to the larger competitive pool.

He went on: “We regularly provide opportunities for different groups in our programme, including many different activities and swimming sessions.

“Active Luton aims to provide everyone in our community, regardless of age, ability or ethnicity, with affordable and accessible opportunities to get active in ways which suit their wide-ranging needs and lifestyles.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/03/outrage-as-olympic-swimming-pool-bans-women-from-men-only-sessio/

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