Such competitions only reflect Western standards which do not provide a woman's body with the sanctity, honour and protection that Islam does

Waleed al-Tabtabai

Waleed al-Tabtabai has complained to the Kuwaiti Information Ministry that women's beach volleyball, diving and synchronised swimming are "too sexy and indecent".

"A number of competitions, especially those for women, include indecent displays which require that television should stop showing them to viewers," Mr Tabtabai said.

The diving competition begins on Friday

Television in Kuwait has been covering the Olympics widely.

The country's sports channel has been broadcasting programmes provided by the Arab Broadcasting Union and seen all over the Middle East.

'Western standards'

Mr Tabtabai is arguing that some of the competitions at the Olympics are more about sex than sport, and as they are not played in Kuwait, they should not be shown on the country's national television.

Synchronised swimming: Not practiced in Kuwait

"Showing such competitions cannot be accepted as sports because they only reflect Western standards which do not provide a woman's body with the sanctity, honour and protection that Islam does," Mr Tabtabai said.

Mr Tabtabai has in the past campaigned against music concerts, Valentine's Day, and Kuwait's annual shopping festival.

In 1997, music concerts in Kuwait attended by men and women were banned after a campaign led by Mr Tabtabai.