More than 30 female leaders discuss the challenges facing women's sports in the country

A sports brainstorming session was held on Tuesday morning at the headquarters of the General Authority for Sports in Dubai, to discuss the challenges facing women, in addition to the legal problems and their relation to sports reality, with the participation of more than 30 female leaders in sports mediated by Nourah Al-Shammari, Counselor of Sports Law

Ibrahim Abdul Malik Mohammed, secretary general of the General Authority for Sport, confirmed the belief of the wise leadership that women play a very large role, they are half of the society, and the government is providing all the facilities for women to take their place alongside men.

He added that the UAE has made great strides today in empowering women, including legislative authorities and the ministerial system. This is a pride for all of us. Today we have a strong women's sport, thanks to the leaders and players who have been able to achieve accomplishments at the continental and international levels. We are proud of this strong presence of women in the country on the level of sport, and we count on women's sports leaders to support this trend.

He stressed that the General Authority for Sport will spare no effort to provide all kinds of support required for the development of women's sport movement, similar to the men's sport movement, noting that the Authority has developed in accordance with its strategic plan the fourth strategic objective, which provides " Noting the role of the Authority in achieving this goal as it has taken many initiatives for the empowerment of women, and committed the sports federations to the need for the presence of women on their boards, in addition to the inclusion of sports activities and programs in the their agenda, in addition to national women teams.

He added "We have also worked in partnership with sport councils, community clubs, the private sector and many others to provide an appropriate, stimulating, innovative environment to empower women to achieve athletic achievements at the continental and international levels and we have very high expectations in that regard.

At the end of his speech, he announced to everyone that the Authority and its sport institutions in the State will provide them with all the needs and requirements in order to achieve positive results and in order to build a strong sports base for sports activity at the state level.

Noura al-Shummari, a legal adviser in sports law and the director of the meeting, said that the gathering is a brainstorming by the sports leadership because the state has provided all that’s needed in sport and it is necessary to unite in the listing our demands and we will make recommendations to the decision makers and aimed at inviting participants to be from different sectors of society (a house wife athlete, a leader athlete, a trainer, special needs) in order to reach the greatest possible number of challenges facing these groups to get comprehensive ideas.

Al Shummari pointed out that the proposals exceeded 120 proposals that will be formulated and submitted to the responsible bodies praising HE Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al-Rumaithi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Authority, in dealing with issues of sport and women issues in particular. She added that the most outstanding proposal was coming up with a legislation and regulation that organizes women sport and the weakness in financial and female cadre and the dominance of the male element in all games and positions, and there is one member in each federation, and the absence of support for the special need people and the ideal environment for them during traveling, and the demand for a special position for the special in the board of directors, in addition to the absence of full-time provision in most of sports bodies and institutes.

The session was attended by Ibrahim Abdul Malik Mohammed, Secretary General of the Authority, Sheikha Shamsa bin Hashar Al Maktoum, Member of the UAE Federation of Volleyball and Chairperson of the Women's Committee in the Federation; Khola Al Sarkal, Member of the Sharjah Sports Council; Fatima Al Ameri; on behalf of HE Nora Al Suwaidi President of the Women's Association, Sahar Al Owaid member of the UAE Athletic Federation, Kholoud Obaid member in the Emirates Weight Lifting Federation, Maryam Rashid Al Shamsi of the Asian Karate Federation, Maryam Al Shamsi, member of the Swimming Federation, Mona Al Shamsi, Counselor in Sports Law, Fawzia Faridoon, Member of the Women's Committee of the Rugby Union, and Mitha Bin Dawi, Member of the Volleyball Union and head of the women committee, in addition to representatives from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Police and the Women's Union in Abu Dhabi, and Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy, the Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation, and all sport fedrations including the special needs.

At the conclusion of the session, Ibrahim Abdul Malik Mohammed, Secretary General of the Authority urged the participants to continue to support their support to contribute to the development of the sport sector, especially the women sector in the country, welcoming all the ideas and proposals that are in this regard.