IOC 'bluntly' turns down Saudi Arabia's bid to host 2020 Olympics for 'men only'

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has bluntly turned down Saudi Arabia's bid to jointly host the 2020 Olympic Games after it suggested that the competition would be for men only, with the women's competition being held in Bahrain.

The IOC, which opened its door to joint bids in 2020, refused to mince words and asserted that "a commitment to non-discrimination" was a pre-condition for all nations hoping to bid for the Olympics in the future and added that countries like, Saudi Arabia, should really work to allow female athletes to 'freely participate," reported The Washington Times.

IOC President Thomas Bach hit out at Saudi Arabia by saying, "You cannot simply 'outsource' certain issues to another territory."

A consultant to the Saudi Olympic Committee, Prince Fahad bin Jalawi al-Saud, had suggested that the kingdom bid jointly with Bahrain so that the women's events could be held there.

He based his decision on the fact that wearing sports clothing in public was not allowed for women in Saudi Arabia.