Sharjah: The top cycling official in Asia has reiterated the need for a better integration of women if the UAE in particular and the Gulf in general is to raise its stake in the sport.
"We admit this part of the continent has been neglected for so long. But with the hosting of the Asian Cycling Championships we have opened new doors and we want to take this further in the future," Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) President Cho Hee Wook told Gulf News on the sidelines of the Congress held at the Millennium Hotel here yesterday.
"We would not have come to this part of the world if we did not have plans for the future. Asia is one big continent and it is high time we unite and harmonise for the sake of the sport and its development and progress," stated Wook, who is also Vice President of world governing body UCI.
The 30th Asian Men's and 17th Asian Juniors Cycling Championships is being held in the Gulf for the first time.
"Yes, it is something similar to what happened in football with Fifa taking well over 100 years to hand Africa its first major tournament. But we do not want to be caught in a similar situation though this place has sand and heat," Wook said. And paramount in this scheme of things is the integration of women according to the official.
"We have such an important event here, so the next logical step is to have the women involved in participating in such competitions. And I am here to discuss this particular matter with the authorities here," Wook insisted.
This week's women's competition has attracted 22 countries from Asia, with Syria the only Arab nation participating.
"After such a long time we see the need to build bridges and unite and harmonise such a diverse continent that is Asia. The UCI is also keen in having a major competition here so that we can charter a new course for the sport by involving this part of the world," he said.
"I am proud that this competition has attracted a record 31 countries. I believe firmly in interacting with presidents from other associations here. This event has been so well organized and I am satisfied with the arrangements," Wook lauded.
Officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed recently to have equal number of cycling events for men and women starting with the 2012 London Olympics.
"This is the main reason why I want to see women's cycling prosper here. I have discussed with Shaikh Faisal Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, President, UAE Cycling Association, this specific subject to promote cycling among women and I insist that it is a very important step if the UAE is to hope to organise a world level event in the future.
"But the first priority should be to promote cycling among women, and only then we can hope for the bigger things to follow," Wook added.
