HH Shaikh Khalid highlights women’s vital role in Bahrain sports

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Women have played a tremendous role in contributing to the many sporting achievements of Bahrain.

This was one of the key messages praising Bahraini women in sport, delivered yesterday by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority president and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as he addressed all those in attendance on the opening day of the ground-breaking Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Gender Equity Seminar.

The two-day conference is being held at the ART Hotel and Resort at Amwaj Islands with the participation of many high-ranking international and regional sporting officials as well as representatives from 42 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

Among those on hand were OCA executive board member and OCA Gender Equity Committee chair Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa; Jordan Olympic Committee President, International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive committee member and OCA member HRH Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein; IOC executive board member Mikaela Cojuangco-Jaworski; OCA acting president Raja Randhir Singh; and BOC vice-president His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

HH Shaikh Khalid welcomed the attendees and wished them a pleasant stay in the Kingdom.

HH Shaikh Khalid highlighted that Bahraini women have enjoyed the unlimited support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, HM the King’s wife and Supreme Council for Women president.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has made great strides in enhancing the presence of women in sports, HH Shaikh Khalid noted, and added that women have played a major role in the sporting achievements of Bahrain—not only on the playing field but also in sports administration.

HH Shaikh Khalid stressed that hosting the OCA Gender Equity Seminar contributes to the exchange of expertise and experiences between NOCs across the continent.

Importance of education

On her part, Shaikha Hayat spoke of the importance of education and training to better achieve gender equality in sport, and that the OCA has integrated such dedicated programmes for women.

“When we speak about gender equity in sport, we must speak about education and awareness which are the two key components in achieving these goals at all levels from grassroots to elite sports,” Shaikha Hayat said.

“The OCA has therefore integrated education and training into sports strategies, including women’s sports with a dedicated programme to empower women and ensure gender equity.”

Shaikha Hayat paid tribute to the vision of HH Shaikh Khalid, under whose patronage the conference is being held.

“Shaikh Khalid’s patronage of our seminar reaffirms His Highness’ unlimited support for sports in general, and women sports in particular,” Shaikha Hayat said.

“When we refer to gender equality, we understand that it includes the right to practise sports for both men and women, which means equal opportunities at all levels—starting from grassroots which is the fundamental base of every strategy to ensure sustainability.”

‘A long process’

Meanwhile, fellow-panelist Cojuangco-Jaworski spoke of gender equity being “a long process” for her, and that one of the most important aspects to achieve this is showing respect to others.

“As a woman and a mother, the most important thing to me is teaching my sons to respect women,” said the former Filipino Asian Games gold medalist in equestrian sports.

“I have three sons, 22, 20 and 14 years old, and it is just not about love, but about respect for women.

“Since becoming involved in sports administration, I have taken the opportunity and pushed for gender equality at every available opportunity.

There are many women in this room who have made a huge contribution towards gender equality in sports, and I’m very grateful for that.”

HRH Prince Faisal, also part of the high-level panel that addressed yesterday’s seminar, concurred with Cojuangco-Jaworski in saying that gender equality has come a long way over the years.

“In 2006, I attended the ANOC General Assembly and I found out then that less than 10 percent of the delegates were women,” HRH Prince Faisal recalled, adding: “Last week, in Seoul at the 2022 ANOC General Assembly, about one-third of the room was female.

This to me is ground-breaking progress.”