[Mrs. Don-o]

"He could have [offered] these actual uniforms from the games as a comparison but he seems more interested in the [stifling] outfits of the Egyptian women because he thinks they are nice and neat and modest and you can play so well all wrapped up like a mummy."

[I'm thinking you've had the same kinds of problems with SpellChek that I have, so I rendered two words in your quote to reflect what I think you were typing.]

And now let me say you're factually mistaken. Pope said not one descriptive word about the particulars of the Egyptian team's uniforms, except that they covered more than the bikinis did, and didn't seem to hamper their athletic performance, as they qualified on merit and played very well.

In fact he specifically referenced the men's beach volleyball uniforms as a favorable comparison (and they didn't wear burqas). He chose this illustration and made the following comment:

"Men’s beach volleyball attire also illustrates that near nudity is not required to play the sport well. The men do not play wearing tiny swimwear. They wear ample shorts along with t-shirts or tank tops."

Do you think the men and disadvantaged and play poorly because they're not just sporting jock straps tout court?

The men's uniforms --- which Pope favors --- are not extreme or prudish, and certainly do not reflect pro-Sharia Fashion Enforcement.

I think your criticism is a bit off-target.

[CaptainK]

Pope said not one descriptive word about the particulars of the Egyptian team's uniforms, except that they covered more than the bikinis did, and didn't seem to hamper their athletic performance, as they qualified on merit and played very well.

What he should have noted is that Islam is a religion that shames women bodies to the point that they have to participate in sports activities swaddled from head to toe in the tropical heat. That's the important point. Not bikinis