Abu Dhabi: The success of Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE is a perfect example of how sport can be introduced among women and one should take a leaf out of it, according to Nora Al Kaabi, Board Member of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy.
“We started with lot of initiative, but some of the hurdles are like the women are shy, the cultural aspects and so on, but the more you have platforms that take care and incubate women sports, then the barriers can be diminished,” Al Kaabi said while announcing the launch of the third International Conference on Women’s Sport in the capital on Wednesday.
The two-day conference themed “Sports … Without Barriers” will be held on May 4-5 at the Emirates Palace under the Patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Nahyan, Wife of the late President Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan,
Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
“With the introduction of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we have examples of women who are starting to play that sport within the school and at international competitions. How social identities and sports council has worked well together to get that sport in the system here. There is government support in that and there is a vision. Imagine a Brazilian sport that has been embraced in Abu Dhabi and in the UAE.”
Al Kaabi felt the UAE is one of countries among the Gulf nations where the mindset of people towards women’s sport is changing rapidly.
“There is no doubt we have made giant strides. Our outlook is changing faster than others and we are heading in the right direction. There is tremendous response for sports like fencing and ice hockey among women and we are looking towards developing them. Equestrian and shooting are other sports that are gaining interest among women,” revealed Al Kaabi.
Other events that will be accompanying the conference will include a sports exhibition competition and a ladies’ sports photography Prize for Emirati women photographers. The conference will witness the participation of prominent experts and specialists in the field of international women’s sport besides distinguished athletes and champions.
