Because of the skimpy swimming suits and leotards, some track athletes have criticized the official Nike kits for American women competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics, calling them "a costume born of patriarchal forces" and "treating women as second-class citizens" in a comment on Nike's Instagram page.

France has faced criticism for its move to forbid its athletes from wearing the hijab.

The Summer Olympics began on Friday and will continue until August 11. French sportswomen will not be able to exercise their right to wear whatever they like, even if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has permitted international athletes to wear the hijab.

Whether it's about prohibiting headscarves used by some Muslim women or discriminatory clothing, activists claim that regulations might limit the freedoms and needs of women. Some argue that women ought to have the freedom to dress however they feel comfortable.

Let's examine the discussion surrounding women's sportswear.

Why have Nike kits for this Olympics been criticised?

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Track and field website Citius Mag initially revealed the men's and women's Nike uniforms for the US track and field teams at the Paris Olympics in April.

Men's clothing consists of a tank top and shorts that fall past the mannequin's fingertips. Female athletes take offence at the kit, which is a leotard with a high-cut bikini line for women.

American track and field athlete Lauren Freshmen characterized the outfit on Instagram, calling it "a costume born of patriarchal forces."

“If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it,” she said.

US Paralympian athlete Jaleen Roberts posted on the new Nike kit image, saying, “This mannequin is standing still and everything’s showing … imagine MID FLIGHT.”

"Shame, shame, shame Nike in treating women as second-class citizens with their Olympic outfits," a different commenter on Nike's Instagram page said.

Some athletes, however, drew attention to the fact that female competitors would have access to a variety of styles and could decide to don the men's uniforms if they so desired.

Olympic pole vaulter Katie Moon said: “I love people defending women, but we have at least 20 different combinations of a uniform to compete in with all the tops and bottoms available to us.”

"The goal was to offer options that met athletes' desires for choice, comfort, and performance," the sports giant Nike said in defence of the clothing.

"The most athlete-informed, data-driven, and visually unified the company has ever produced" was how the kits were described.