The International Olympic Committee is cracking down on misogynistic governments and the Saudi government is listening.

The IOC has said that if a country does not send women to the Olympics, then their male competitors can stay home. Rather than lose face by being absent, the Saudis have discovered that they can meet Olympic demands and still avoid the worst blowback from conservative Saudi society. A Saudi woman, 18-year-old Dalma Rushdi Malhas, will compete in Equestrian events.

It’s not diving or water polo, where minimal clothing would present perceived problems. Riders are fully clothed, exposing only hands and faces, so it should be socially safe. There are sure to be complaints, though, whether claims that the government folded to foreign demands or the impropriety of women taking part in sports.

Saudi women to get Olympics try
Sharifa Ghanem

Saudi Arabian women are barred from driving and face penalties for attempting to do so, including public lashings. This hasn’t stopped the country from reportedly giving the green light to women to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

However, the country only plans to send a female equestrian team to the games. The move is largely due to warnings from the International Olympic Committee’s Women and Sports Commission, which said the conservative Gulf kingdom could be barred from the Olympics altogether if women are not allowed to participate.

Saudi Arabia has never sent a woman to the Olympics. The kingdom forbids women from participating in sports in the country.
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Thanks to commenter Andrew for bringing this to my attention.