More Emirati women taking up sport

Abu Dhabi: More women are taking up sport in the UAE, particularly in disciplines like football, it was revealed on Sunday at the second annual Abu Dhabi International Conference on Women’s Sports, which saw Olympians from across the world and UAE sports representatives come together at the Emirates Palace.

The two-day conference saw the presence of Emirati federations such as the Women’s Football Committee, UAE Tennis Table Association, Emirates Golf Federation, UAE Cycling Federation, UAE Chess Federation, and the UAE’s Wrestling, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Federations, among others.

“We have more and more females taking up football every year. We started with five Emirati women and now we have 15. We also have 16 teams that are Under-14 and seven professional teams,” Al Jalila Ali Al Nuaimi, captain of the Emirati women’s national football team and coach of the Under-16s team, told Gulf News.

Standing next to a Championship Cup from an earlier victory, Al Nuaimi expressed her pride in participating in the conference for the second year. She added that it was important for her as a female athlete to take an active part in the event.

While most participation came from Olympians and sports federations, the Ministry of Education also had representation through the UAE Interschool Sports Association.

The Director of the Sports Department at the Ministry of Education, Hassan Lootah, said the conference was a reflection of Emirati women and their achievements.

“We’re seeing participation not only from more girls, but they are taking up more sports,” Lootah said. “Girls mostly used to play basketball and volleyball because there isn’t much contact between players in those sports, but now girls are taking up football, shooting, gymnastics and other sports.”

Lootah added that the Interschool Sports Association has been encouraging schoolgirls to take up sports through spreading awareness on their importance to health.

On its second day on Monday, the conference, which takes place from 9am to 2.30pm, is set to discuss sports facilities and the personal experiences of Olympians. Among the speakers is Nawal Al Moutawakel, the first ever Muslim African female Olympic gold medallist and current Vice President of the International Olympic Committee.

Other Olympians include Bahraini Roqaya Al Gassra, who competed in the 100-metre sprint in the Athens Olympics, Italian fencer Margherita Granbassi, and Italian canoeist Josefa Idem Guerrini.

Held under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the conference aims to spread awareness on female participation in sports.