This is interesting: should Muslim olympians fast?

[Deleted]

An athlete from Morocco is not fasting, but donating a certain number of meals for each day back home.

[Deleted]

My co-worker is fasting now. This year is particularly tough.

She breaks the fast if she is on her period.

[dowagercountess]

I feel bad for my Muslim students. Start of school sucks enough, but they will be starting without snacks, and that sucks more.

[underwaterrhymes]

I definitely think it should be up to individual decision. That's tough, though. I wonder if they break fast after sundown, or rise early enough, if they could ingest enough calories to get them through the competition the next day.

I have heard that fasting is not necessary for those traveling, but that they must make up those days when they get home. Perhaps this is an option?

[Deleted]

Jul 24, 2012 11:49:07 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I definitely think it should be up to individual decision. That's tough, though. I wonder if they break fast after sundown, or rise early enough, if they could ingest enough calories to get them through the competition the next day.

I have heard that fasting is not necessary for those traveling, but that they must make up those days when they get home. Perhaps this is an option?

The fasting is intense. My co-worker doesn't even drink water. Nothing.

Needless to say, we stay clear of her for a month. LOL.

But we did feed her lots of cupcakes the day before Ramadan started.

[Deleted]

Jul 24, 2012 11:47:11 GMT -5 frkls said:

I feel like this should have come up before now, like back in the very earliest planning stages. Im not necessarily saying that the dates should have been set around ramadan but it would have been nice. Obviously i have no idea what goes i to the olympic planning process. Ramadan is a big deal

I agree. That would've been the thoughtful thing to do.

[underwaterrhymes]

Right, but during Ramadan Muslims can eat / drink after sundown / before sunrise. Not sure if primetime cupcakes are acceptable, but they are allowed to eat / drink / have sex at night. That's probably not enough to tide one over, though.

The water is an issue I didn't even think of. That's absolutely necessary during the day when they're competing.

[onesweetworld]

There is a special clause in the Koran re fasting and how you can postpone it if you are traveling, pregnant, old or sick. Some are using this option as they ate technically traveling to the games and out of their country etc.

[underwaterrhymes]

Jul 24, 2012 11:54:34 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Jul 24, 2012 11:47:11 GMT -5 frkls said:

I feel like this should have come up before now, like back in the very earliest planning stages. Im not necessarily saying that the dates should have been set around ramadan but it would have been nice. Obviously i have no idea what goes i to the olympic planning process. Ramadan is a big deal

I agree. That would've been the thoughtful thing to do.

I'm really surprised that no one thought of this when they were planning it.

[wrathofkuus]

They can make up the days if they can't fast for some reason, and the reasons not to fast are pretty reasonable. Not overstressing or dehydrating your body during the Olympics would almost certainly qualify.

[eightangryreindeer]

South Africa played England over the weekend in Test Match Cricket (5 days long).

SF has a Muslim player, Hashim Amla, who was fasting.

He scored a triple century (300 runs) which broke records. It took him 13 hours straight and it was sunny and warm in London over the weekend.

I think this helps to prove the fact that fasting may not impact an athlete's ability to compete.

[eightangryreindeer]

You guys, Ramadan is long and while I'm sure it was considered there would have been no way to reschedule the London games around it.

They're not stopping play every Saturday to accommodate Orthodox Jewish athletes, are they?

Plus, Muslim athletes have had plenty of time to train with the knowledge that it would be Ramadan.

[onesweetworld]

What ltp said and many say the do better while fasting as they ate more focused and in touch with god/Allah

[Nicole]

There are exceptions to fasting per my Muslim friend. For instance, when a woman is on her period she is not supposed to fast, same with breastfeeding. I asked her just today when she plans on having her son fast. She said it wouldn't be until he was 15 or later.

Obviously it is up to the individual but I think they should be able to observe Ramadan in other ways if they are competing in the Olympics.

[eightangryreindeer]

Jul 24, 2012 12:06:53 GMT -5 toledo said:

ltp, I'm not saying they should have scheduled around it, but it was not impossible. The dates of the Olympics are not set in stone, and have been held later than this for the last three summer games

Given that neither one of us are privvy to the calendaring intricacies of the Olympic Committee, this seems a moot point to argue.

And it's not like England doesn't have its own huge Muslim population - I really don't think this was a case of "fuck Ramadan, you guys."

[eightangryreindeer]

Jul 24, 2012 12:12:26 GMT -5 toledo said:

OK. I'll shut up then.

lol, PLUS, that guy I mentioned!!! A truly amazing performance!!

He's kind of adorable, too, if you're into facial hair, lol.

[eightangryreindeer]

[LLL]

I think the decision should be left up to the athlete.

[LLL]

ltp, that's more than just facial hair. no bueno.

[Deleted]

Jul 24, 2012 12:25:41 GMT -5 LLL said:

ltp, that's more than just facial hair. no bueno.

Yep, too much for my liking.

[Deleted]

That beard is very dense and curly.

[LLL]

Jul 24, 2012 12:27:25 GMT -5 toledo said:

Jul 24, 2012 12:24:49 GMT -5 LLL said:

I think the decision should be left up to the athlete.

I don't think anyone is arguing otherwise. It's obviously a personal choice.

I didn't think anyone was. I'm answering your original question which was whether or not they should fast. I think they should feel confident in whatever decision they make and that they are not letting down their countries.

[emsumm]

I can't believe the fortitude of Olympians who observe Ramadan whilst competing. Damn. But, I think they are clearly performing above and beyond, and in spite of their fast. It is a shame that the Games can't be scheduled to avoid at least part of the month. Orthodox Jews don't have to fast all day, most days of the Games, so I don't know that that is the most apt comparison.
Also, I don't know that most observant Muslims would consider competing in the Olympics to be an exemption, I'm really interested to know now. They have traveled, but are not traveling, so I'm not sure that that would apply. I suspect that they would be expected to fast.

[eightangryreindeer]

rawr

[emjacobs]

Ramadan isn't a new thing. I'm sure Muslim athletes have had to deal with issues related to this in the past. I'm sure the Olympic committee has a lot to take into consideration when it comes down to scheduling of the Olympics including weather, other events, Olympic trials, etc.

This isn't the first time that this has happened and it looks like many countries are stating that its athletes can postpone the fasting.

[Deleted]

It seems they can postpone their fast, although it also seems to depend on interpretation - like all good religions

www.thenews.com.pk/article-60328-Olympians-can-postpone-Ramadan-fast


"The Quran says if you have a mission to complete, you can postpone the fasting but you must replace the number of days you did not fast."



Eleven out of the 30 Malaysian athletes going to London are Muslim.



One of Malaysia's top medal prospects, cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, who won silver at the 2009 track cycling world championships, is among the athletes who will put off fasting, Malaysian media reported this week.



Sieh Kok Chi, secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, also said Olympic athletes should not fast while competing.



"It is a once in their lifetime chance to participate in the Olympics. They should opt out from fasting for one or two days so that they stand a chance of winning a medal," he told AFP.

British tabloid The Daily Mail reported in 2006 that the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission said the Olympics timing was insensitive while Turkey, Egypt and Morocco lobbied for it to be rescheduled.



The International Olympic Committee, however, declined the requests, saying the Games were a secular event.



Islamic authorities in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, and Morocco have recently allowed their athletes to postpone their fasts despite disagreement from some Muslims.





But actually I want to talk about this woman, holy crap!

Shooter Nur Suryani Mohamad Taibi, who will compete in London despite being eight months pregnant, is excused from fasting since she is expecting, but said all Muslims should be excused from fasting during competition.



"Islam is lenient. It is not a religion that forces people. Actually when we go to London we are termed as travellers. Islam allows us to postpone our fasting," she said.

[Deleted]

Well, yes, of course Ramadan isn't a new thing.

But it doesn't take place at the same time every year, so it is not always a concern during every Olympics.

[Deleted]

Cool that they can postpone!

[Nicole]

this reminded me what an asshole i felt like this morning when i asked my muslim friend if she wanted to walk to starbuck with me.

i completely forgot she was fasting.

asshole, nicole.

[eightangryreindeer]

wait wait wait

I just read that Amla was not fasting! He is postponing until his return to Durban.

Still cute though.