Pink wants to pay fines for Norwegian beach handball players

US singer Pink is arguably the best-known supporter of the Norwegian women's beach handball team. In the game for third place at this year's European Beach Handball Championships, they protested what they saw as a sexist dress code and wore longer sports shorts instead of the prescribed bikini bottoms. The European Handball Federation then imposed a fine of 150 euros per team member, resulting in a total fine of 1500 euros for the Norwegians.

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Singer Pink now showed solidarity with the athletes and offered financial support: "I am very proud of the Norwegian beach handball players who are protesting against the very sexist rules for their 'uniform'," wrote the 41-year-old on Twitter. She would be happy to pay the fine that the association had imposed on the team. "The European handball federation should have to pay penalties for sexism," the singer continued.

"You have our full support"

The Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF) also defended the athletes' decision to play in longer trousers and also stated that they intend to pay the fine for all players. "I got a message ten minutes before the game that they will wear the clothes they are happy with. And they have our full support," NHF President Kåre Geir Lio told NBC News.

The association also shared its support on its Instagram account: "We are very proud of these women who are at the European Beach Handball Championship. They raised their voices and said that enough is enough," wrote the NHF. "We are the Norwegian Handball Federation and we stand behind you and support you. We will continue to fight to change international dress code rules so players can play in the clothes they feel comfortable in."

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The protest action has meanwhile made waves internationally. In addition to superstar Pink, Michael Wiederer, President of the European Handball Federation (EHF), also spoke up on this topic and announced that the EHF would do everything in its power to revise the applicable dress code: "I can confirm that the EHF will do everything to ensure that a change in the regulations for athletes' uniforms can be implemented," Wiederer is quoted as saying in an EHF press release. "Significant efforts are being made to continue promoting the sport in the best possible way for everyone, regardless of gender."