Saudi Arabia is to allow its women athletes to compete in the Olympics for the first time. Officials say the country's Olympic Committee will oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify. The public participation of women in sport is still fiercely opposed by many Saudi religious conservatives. There is almost no public tradition of women participating in sport in the country. Saudi officials say that with the Games now just a few weeks away, the only female competitor at Olympic standard is showjumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas.In secret meetings in Jeddah, officials say a consensus was reached in mid-June between the king, the crown prince, the Foreign Minister, the leading religious cleric, the grand mufti and others, to overturn the ban. An announcement was ready to be made but then had to be delayed as the country marked the sudden death of Crown Prince Nayef.