• Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
    Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
    Sign up Log in

Sikhs Permitted To Wear Ceremonial Daggers To Olympic Events

Jan 6, 2005
3,450
3,762
Metro-Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Sikhs permitted to wear ceremonial daggers to Olympic events
Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Kirpan is a Sikh religious symbol comparable to the Christian cross.

Initiated Sikh men will be permitted to wear ceremonial daggers less than 7.5 inches in length to Vancouver 2010 Winter Games venues, the RCMP's Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit announced Thursday.
The dagger, called a kirpan, is one of the articles of faith that all observant Sikhs must wear.

To be admitted to Olympic venues Sikhs wearing the kirpan must notify security personnel before being screened for admittance. The blade may be no longer than four inches and must be worn beneath the clothing, secured in a sheath. The kirpan must be worn with all the Sikh articles of faith.

The RCMP sought advice about creating rules for wearing kirpans from the Sikh community through its community relations group, which includes members of many of the city's religious and ethnic groups.

Research conducted by the RCMP's Olympic security unit suggested that violence involving kirpans is extremely rare and that allowing them into venues will not incur additional risk.

"The new guidelines provide reasonable accommodation for religious freedoms as defined by Canadian laws and values, while clearly identifying the conditions under which the kirpan may be worn," according to a statement from V2010 ISU.
 

Tejwant Singh

Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Jun 30, 2004
5,028
7,188
Henderson, NV.
Initiated Sikh men will be permitted to wear ceremonial daggers less than 7.5 inches in length to Vancouver 2010 Winter Games venues, the RCMP's Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit announced Thursday.

The omission of initiated Sikh women shows that the machismo still exists despite the fact that Guru Nanak, the visionary was the first feminist long before anyone cared about the female gender as an equal.On a side note, one wonders where will the men put their Kirpans during the Kabbadi tournament on the snowy slopes!!
 

News Editor

SPNer
Oct 16, 2009
1
2
The article you are quoting from the Vancouver Sun is inaccurate about the issue of Sikhs being allowed to wear a kirpan at Olympic venues.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police did not make a disctinction between men and women. The article suggests that the rule applies to "initiated men." That is incorrect.

It applies to all Sikhs, men and women.

For a more accurate version see this story at:

Vancouverite

you may also wish to respond to some comments.

Best regards.
 

❤️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN SPN MOBILE PLATFORM

Top