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Literally. Just today the Spanish synchronized swim team was ousted from the Olympics for using flashing lights in their swimsuit during their routine. Olympic officials claimed the lights were an accessory, which are not allowed during the competition. The swimmers countered with the fact the lights were sewn in, and that if that were the case, then sequents would have to be considered accessories as well.
A little excerpt from Yahoo!:
“It looks a bit like Christmas lights,” added the Spaniard, one half of the team that won silver at the last world championships and are favourites for a medal in Beijing.
Swimming’s world governing body, which sets swimsuit rules for a sport where sequins are almost obligatory, said the lights were an accessory but Fuentes still hoped they might back down.
“This is a very conservative sport … their excuse that is you cannot have accessories on your swimsuit, but they are sewn in. If you use those standards, sequins are a type of accessory.”
While they raise some good arguments, they are still lights in a bathing suit. Not everyone has full access to that kind of technology, and the organizers simply don’t want to see a beautiful sport turn into a freak show. If the girls were smart, they would stick with the regular shiny suits. They work just fine.
