Saudi women allowed to compete in Olympics

Saudi Arabia will allow women to compete in the Olympic games for the first time in London.

Saudi Arabia, where public sports events for women are banned, will allow females to compete in the Olympic Games from next month.

The issue of women in sport remains extremely sensitive in the ultra-conservative Muslim state, where women are not even allowed to drive cars and the authorities shut down private gyms for women in 2009 and 2010.

Equestrian contestant Dalma Malhas is likely to be the country's only female athlete to qualify for this summer's Games in London.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei are the only three countries never to have sent women athletes to the Olympics.