MPs: F16 escort for handball men slights women
The women's handball team did not receive the same heroes' welcome by the Air Force
Yesterday was not the first, but the second time, a winning men's national team received a jet fighter escort and equal rights advocates are questionion why the multiple gold-winning women's handball team has never received the same salute.
In 1992, the Royal Air Force had paid tribute to the men's football team after they came home as European Champions by sending a pair of jet fighters to escort them back to Copenhagen.
'When I think about the number of gold medals the women's team has won without so much as a pat on the back, it shows me that the military is a male-dominated world,' said Anne Marie Meldgaard, Social Democrat equal rights spokesperson, told Politiken newspaper.
Pernille Vigsø Bagge, her counterpart in the Socialist People's Party called the incident directly embarrassing.
The Royal Air Force responded by saying it was unfortunate but the decision had not been properly thought through.
Spokesperson Morten Jensen did promise, though, that if the women's handball team won another gold medal, two jet fighters would escort the ladies home.
Fact file Overview of women's medals
1962 World Championships (outdoors seven-member teams) Silver 1993 World Championships Silver 1994 European Championships Gold 1995 World Championships Bronze 1996 Olympics Gold 1996 European Championships Gold 1998 European Championships Silver 2000 Olympics Gold 2002 European Championships Gold 2004 European Championships Silver 2004 Olympics Gold
(source: Danish Handball Association)