Ramadan poses extra challenge for Muslim athletes

Fasting Muslim athletes heading to the London Olympics will face an additional challenge, with the holy month of Ramadan coinciding with the games.

Ramadan requires Muslims to fast between sunrise and sunset, and in London during summer, that could mean spending up to 17 hours without food or water. It could also mean less sleep for participating athletes who choose to rise for the traditional pre-dawn meal.

Some athletes, like Australian taekwondo competitors Safwan Khalil and Carmen Marton, will observe Ramadan after the games are over.

British rower and sports science graduate Mo Sbihi, who wrote his dissertation on the performance of athletes without food and water, also says he will delay his fast in order to maximise his chances of success.

Fasting exemptions are not uncommon, especially in cases where failing to eat or drink for extended periods could harm a person's health.

Hundreds of Muslim athletes, however, are expected to continue fasting even as they participate in the world's biggest sporting event.