Showing posts with label Palestine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palestine. Show all posts
1/12/15
4/29/13
The Palestine Marathon: Promoting freedom of movement
The West Bank's first marathon took place in Bethlehem to promote human rights and tell an alternative story to one of conflict and war.
On Sunday 21 April 2013, 650 runners from 28 countries gathered around the Church of the Nativity, which was transformed into an international sports arena for the day, to run run 5, 10, 21.1 or 42.2 kilometers in the hilly streets of Bethlehem, before returning to an uphill finish at the starting point. Palestinians, of which many were running their first official race, made up close to 70 per cent of runners and finished in the top three places.
In the week leading up to the race, word got around that the streets would be closed down on the course that featured refugee camps, Olive fields, the Wall and lots of local shops. Many people gathered to get a grasp of the test of human endurance going on in their streets.
High number of female runners
37 per cent of runners were women. The high number of female participants is a feat for the organisers, who had made great efforts locally to get women to run. Jacky Ka, a 24 year old women and first time half marathon finisher, who helped organise weekly training runs in the West Bank, says she is proud not only of her own performance, but also of the many women involved: “Running up the final hill, I felt so exhausted, but also so proud and full of energy. Running is new to me - it is new to Palestinians - but I believe we will get a lot more women next year. I can’t wait.”
Danish women organisers Signe Fischer and Lærke Hein, who got the idea to create a marathon in Palestine two years ago, hugged with a huge sigh of relief and great pride, as the marathon was well underway, and it became clear that their efforts had paid off: “We did this to tell a different story than the one of conflict and war, and I think I can safely say that we were successful.”
Registration for next years Palestine Marathon will open shortly on the Right to Movement website .
In the week leading up to the race, word got around that the streets would be closed down on the course that featured refugee camps, Olive fields, the Wall and lots of local shops. Many people gathered to get a grasp of the test of human endurance going on in their streets.
High number of female runners
37 per cent of runners were women. The high number of female participants is a feat for the organisers, who had made great efforts locally to get women to run. Jacky Ka, a 24 year old women and first time half marathon finisher, who helped organise weekly training runs in the West Bank, says she is proud not only of her own performance, but also of the many women involved: “Running up the final hill, I felt so exhausted, but also so proud and full of energy. Running is new to me - it is new to Palestinians - but I believe we will get a lot more women next year. I can’t wait.”
Danish women organisers Signe Fischer and Lærke Hein, who got the idea to create a marathon in Palestine two years ago, hugged with a huge sigh of relief and great pride, as the marathon was well underway, and it became clear that their efforts had paid off: “We did this to tell a different story than the one of conflict and war, and I think I can safely say that we were successful.”
Registration for next years Palestine Marathon will open shortly on the Right to Movement website .
[This article has been edited by the Operating Team of sportanddev.org.]
Source: http://www.sportanddev.org/?5589/The-Palestine-Marathon-Promoting-freedom-of-movement
3/28/13
Palestine Women's Team in line for FIFA development boost
Football development in Palestine is set to take the spotlight with the official inauguration of four Goal projects, incorporating an overall FIFA investment of approximately USD $4,500,000, scheduled for next summer.
In addition to Goal project 4, the completion of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) headquarters in Al Ram, Palestine football will benefit from a football academy in All Birreh, and the installation of artificial turf pitches in Tulkarem and Ram.
A further investment of USD $200,000 for the reconstruction of Gaza’s stadium was approved by FIFA’s Finance Committee in December 2012. Works are scheduled to start this summer. Additional funds have enabled the execution of 20 educational courses and six activities undertaken within the scope of FIFA’s PERFORMANCE programme since 2010.
“PFA is starting a new era with the move to our new headquarters. We are confident that with the support from FIFA’s PERFORMANCE Programme we will be able to properly implement our general strategy and train PFA staff accordingly,” says PFA President Jibril Rajoub.
It’s quite remarkable the extent to which football has become a key tool to promote social development inPalestine.
Thierry Regenass, FIFA's Director of Member Associations and Development
Strategy and planning, clubs and leagues, marketing and revenue generation, and technical development – specifically grassroots and women’s football – have been identified as the key priorities according to the annual review recently delivered by the PFA board in cooperation with FIFA.
“Our aim is to change the world’s impression of the people of Palestine, highlighting our passion for football and sports in general,” commented PFA Technical Director Mazen Khatib.
Palestine joined FIFA in 1998 but had been unable to play internationals within their borders until funding from world football’s governing body helped them build a stadium up to international standards in 2008, when it welcomed Jordan for its maiden match with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter in attendance.
“It’s quite remarkable the extent to which football has become a key tool to promote social development in Palestine. It’s our intention as FIFA to contribute to the implementation of an efficient football infrastructure, while fostering the general PFA structures and enabling Palestinian people to practice their favourite sport,” explained FIFA's Director of Member Associations and Development, Thierry Regenass.
3/16/13
Gaza Marathon Cancelled After Women Banned From Participating
BY: SHIREEN AHMED
The third annual Gaza Marathon, scheduled for April 10, 2013 has been cancelled according to an announcement by the Palestinian agency of UNRWA (United Nations Relief Works Agency) made March 5, 2013.
It states that the authorities in Gaza have barred women from participating in the event, in which women had run alongside men in previous years, to raise money for the agency which helps refugees in Gaza, The West Bank and neighbouring Arab States. UNRWA is currently suffering from a 66 million dollar budget shortfall and has relied on the Gaza marathon to draw awareness to its’ campaign needs.
Despite objections, the ruling Islamic authority since 2007, Hamas, decided that stricter enforcements were required in the region and that women were not to take part “under any circumstances”.
Some Palestinian Activists feels that this incident may an indication of how Hamas views women and what role they should play in society.
"Gaza's women need to raise their voices against this" says Mona Shawa, Women’s Rights Advocate at Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Other Human rights Organizations encouraged UNRWA to hold the marathin as Hamas has no right to discriminate against women.
Officials say 807 people registered and of those, 385 were female 226 were Gazan and 119 from overseas.
Another 1600 children (boys and girls) would have been running the race.
Those participants, most often wore long-sleeved shirts and some even wear headscarves.
They are attired very modestly in consideration of the conservative society in which they live.
Girls were not banned from the race and Hamas cabinet secretary Abdessalam Siyyam, would not comment on why women were previously allowed to participate.
“We did not tell UN Relief Works Agency to cancel the marathon and we haven’t prevented it, but we laid down some conditions: We don’t want women and men mixing in the same place” he said.
This is situation leaves women more isolated and restricted not only in movement but in ability to contribute to any socio-political activity.
The decision to cancel the marathon takes away the women’s choice to be involved in athletics publicly.
Separating the genders may not not be a solution because one of the main objections is of women running in the streets.
Nader Masri, who represented Palestine in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 said that Gaza’s strict cultural impositions and conservative traditions make it difficult for women to run in public. “Who would allow his daughter or sister to run in the street? When a girl of 16 or 17 is running in the street, that’s not acceptable.”
Noura Shukri, a high-school student who participated in both 2011 and 2012 marathons explained that going against cultural practices might also have adverse effects at the community level. “My Dad told me that I’m a pretty woman now, and not a girl anymore, so I can’t run in the streets. It will be a headache for him because people will gossip.”
These opinions prevents the mobility and accessibility to services for women and creates further barriers for organizations who may be struggling to find opportunity to campaign for Gaza’s needs.
Moreover, it reduces the sense of normalcy of such events in an area that had recently been hard hit with tragedy and strife.
It has not only disappointed the runners who have trained and looked forward to an event to draw much positive attention to the cause of rebuilding Gaza after much infrastructure was destroyed- including athletic facilities.
The marathon was to be an opportunity to showcase hope, passion, resilience and athleticism of Palestinians.
Sixteen year-old Ayman Abdullah, who ran in last year’s race, admitted her deep disappointment, “It was an expression of freedom and showed that we in Gaza are a civilised people”.
Just today, it was announced that the West Bank would be hosting its’ first marathon in the city of Bethlehem. The marathon aptly named: Right to Movement Palestine Marathon will be held on April 21, 2013.The West Bank is under Palestinian control not Hamas, who stated they honour women’s right to participate. Practices for this event have already begun.
Hopefully next year, there can be reasonable accommodation from Hamas authorities to allow women to run in Gaza.
So they too, can exercise freedom of movement.
The third annual Gaza Marathon, scheduled for April 10, 2013 has been cancelled according to an announcement by the Palestinian agency of UNRWA (United Nations Relief Works Agency) made March 5, 2013.
It states that the authorities in Gaza have barred women from participating in the event, in which women had run alongside men in previous years, to raise money for the agency which helps refugees in Gaza, The West Bank and neighbouring Arab States. UNRWA is currently suffering from a 66 million dollar budget shortfall and has relied on the Gaza marathon to draw awareness to its’ campaign needs.
Despite objections, the ruling Islamic authority since 2007, Hamas, decided that stricter enforcements were required in the region and that women were not to take part “under any circumstances”.
Some Palestinian Activists feels that this incident may an indication of how Hamas views women and what role they should play in society.
"Gaza's women need to raise their voices against this" says Mona Shawa, Women’s Rights Advocate at Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Other Human rights Organizations encouraged UNRWA to hold the marathin as Hamas has no right to discriminate against women.
Officials say 807 people registered and of those, 385 were female 226 were Gazan and 119 from overseas.
Another 1600 children (boys and girls) would have been running the race.
Those participants, most often wore long-sleeved shirts and some even wear headscarves.
They are attired very modestly in consideration of the conservative society in which they live.
Girls were not banned from the race and Hamas cabinet secretary Abdessalam Siyyam, would not comment on why women were previously allowed to participate.
“We did not tell UN Relief Works Agency to cancel the marathon and we haven’t prevented it, but we laid down some conditions: We don’t want women and men mixing in the same place” he said.
This is situation leaves women more isolated and restricted not only in movement but in ability to contribute to any socio-political activity.
The decision to cancel the marathon takes away the women’s choice to be involved in athletics publicly.
Separating the genders may not not be a solution because one of the main objections is of women running in the streets.
Nader Masri, who represented Palestine in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 said that Gaza’s strict cultural impositions and conservative traditions make it difficult for women to run in public. “Who would allow his daughter or sister to run in the street? When a girl of 16 or 17 is running in the street, that’s not acceptable.”
Noura Shukri, a high-school student who participated in both 2011 and 2012 marathons explained that going against cultural practices might also have adverse effects at the community level. “My Dad told me that I’m a pretty woman now, and not a girl anymore, so I can’t run in the streets. It will be a headache for him because people will gossip.”
These opinions prevents the mobility and accessibility to services for women and creates further barriers for organizations who may be struggling to find opportunity to campaign for Gaza’s needs.
Moreover, it reduces the sense of normalcy of such events in an area that had recently been hard hit with tragedy and strife.
It has not only disappointed the runners who have trained and looked forward to an event to draw much positive attention to the cause of rebuilding Gaza after much infrastructure was destroyed- including athletic facilities.
The marathon was to be an opportunity to showcase hope, passion, resilience and athleticism of Palestinians.
Sixteen year-old Ayman Abdullah, who ran in last year’s race, admitted her deep disappointment, “It was an expression of freedom and showed that we in Gaza are a civilised people”.
Just today, it was announced that the West Bank would be hosting its’ first marathon in the city of Bethlehem. The marathon aptly named: Right to Movement Palestine Marathon will be held on April 21, 2013.The West Bank is under Palestinian control not Hamas, who stated they honour women’s right to participate. Practices for this event have already begun.
Hopefully next year, there can be reasonable accommodation from Hamas authorities to allow women to run in Gaza.
So they too, can exercise freedom of movement.
(pics via National Post)
Piece originally published: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/womens-rights/wr-middle-east/wr-palestine/3800-marathon-gaza.html
3/4/13
Surfing Sisters in Gaza Hit Waves of Disapproval
Two Palestinian sisters, Sabah and Shrouq Abu Gunaim, are struggling to hang on to their identities as active surfers despite cultural opposition to body-baring sports for girls and women.
When they were little girls they could surf with relative freedom. But now that they are teens, it's different.
"My family encourages me, although the community thinks it's shameful to do so," says Sabah, age 14, as her mother braids her long ponytail.
For her older sister Shrouq, 17, the pressure is now particularly intense.
The Abu Gunaim family lives in a modest, thatched-roof house just across the street from the beach, in the windswept spot of Sheikh Ejleen.
For a while Sabah, as a younger girl, surfed openly on the beach. But now she avoids broad daylight. "Once I got older and became more of a woman, as they say, I had to surf when no one is looking, in the early morning and sometimes late at night," she says.
Both sisters are careful not to go out alone anymore.
"I always surf with my father and brothers around now," says Sabah. "I enjoy it; but not as much. But do I have any other choice?"
If their father is nearby, men on the beach are less likely to harass and scold them for flouting constraints on girls' sports. But sometimes even if their father is there, a male passerby will threaten and harass him to get his daughters out of the water.
Still, Sabah remains committed to the sport. "The community might say it is 'aib,' a disgrace, for a girl to surf, but it doesn't feel this way. I want to go to the Olympics with Shrouq and prove them wrong."
Hurting Marriage Prospects
Their mother, a 35-year-old full-time homemaker who asked not to be named, worries that surfing could hurt her daughters' chances at marriage.
"My daughters can't draw attention to themselves anymore," she says. "It will hurt them and ruin their small dreams. I only hope they don't get hurt; it's what they love to do and that's all I care about."
The sisters' surf boards--one black and white and one blue--have been featured in a number of stories in the foreign press in recent years. But here at home the attention is beginning to work against them in a community where young women are expected to stay largely inside and wear modest attire.
Whether they will be knocked off balance by waves of public disapproval is a question as they are getting older.
The girls' father, Rajab Abu Gunaim, helped pioneer the sport in the Gaza Strip and passed on his passion to his two daughters, the oldest of six children. Sabah and Shrouq in turn taught their younger brothers.
"I consider myself a self-taught surfer, a lucky one," says Rajab Abu Gunaim "What I have learnt represents my heritage, one that I'm working on passing on to my children, both boys and girls."
When the novelty of two surfing sisters in the Gaza Strip began to attract the media, their father worried the exposure might bring negative attention. At the same time, however, he thought it could also work to foster their talent and help the local community adjust to the idea of female surfing.
The sisters are breaking no laws in surfing, but girls and women are by custom expected to be accompanied by a male in public, to dress in modest attire and to exercise and participate in sports indoors. Outdoor sports, with body-revealing attire, are borderline taboo.
TV-Taught Skills
Rajab Abu Gunaim works as a full-time life guard during the summer and as a fisherman throughout the year. Much of his surfing skills, he says, came from watching the sport on TV. He learned how to swim at age 8 and at 17 began training others to surf.
Now about a dozen male surfers--ranging from 14 to 35 in age--are a common feature on the beach, all of them trained by him.
His daughters ride on boards donated by a cross-border cooperation organization, Surfing 4 Peace, which encourages surfers in Gaza and Israel.
Gazans' use of the sea was limited to three nautical miles after the 2008-2009 war imposed a blockade that has made fishing and sailing nearly impossible. Israel says the blockade is necessary to stop the infiltration of militants into Israel and arms importation to Gaza.
Rajab Abu Gunaim, who says he has come under fire many times while fishing, condemns the blockade as a form of "collective punishment" that has hurt his livelihood and blocked the import of surf boards to the Gaza Strip.
"No surf boards are allowed to come in and of course none of us are allowed to get to the boarders to bring them in. It is hopeless. Although surfing is a joyful and challenging sport all over the world, apparently in Gaza it threatens Israeli security," he fumed.
Sabah recounts the astonishment of her classmates the first time they saw her surf. "I once came back from school with some of my classmates and they saw my board. I tried to explain to them about surfing and my dad took us all on his boat into the sea. I dived into the water and when I looked back, they were all astonished."
Eman Mohammed is a 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist and reporter based in the Gaza Strip.
10/30/12
UAE defeat Palestine in AFC pre-qualifying game.
Bethlehem: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2014 qualification hopefuls Palestine went down to a 4-2 home defeat to the UAE in an international friendly at the Al Khader Stadium.
The UAE dominated the first-half and were 3-0 up after 34 minutes played, with Sara Muhammed adding to goals from Dalila Zarouqui (12th) and Iman Tarouda (16th).
The Palestinians rallied and went into the interval trailing by just one goal courtesy of a 37th minute Walaa Hussein effort and a Karol Sahejan strike one minute before the half-time whistle but their efforts turned out to be in vain as Tarouda scored her second and the UAE's fourth and final goal in the 62nd minute.
Palestine are in Group D of the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers alongside Myanmar, Chinese Taipei and India with the match schedules to be announced soon.
Source: Women's Soccer United
10/11/12
Women athletes break barriers inside and outside Gaza
The Gaza women’s table tennis team with their coach and administrators.
(Shadi Alqarra / The Electronic Intifada)
A women’s tennis table team is set to leave Gaza for Jordan to participate in an international Arab table tennis tournament in October. The four-strong team is traveling for the first time since Israel imposed tightened closure measures on Gaza in 2007.
The anticipated departure of the team for the tournament — an annual event hosted by the Arab Table Tennis Federation — comes as a result of a slight easing of the strict conditions at Rafah crossing by Egyptian authorities. Rafah is the only outlet from Gaza besides those between the coastal territory and Israel.
“When I was a little girl, my father used to encourage us to play table tennis to the extent that he bought us a table tennis to play at home,” Ruba al-Zubaidi, a 31-year-old mother of two, told The Electronic Intifada at Gaza City’s al-Jazeera Sports Club, where she was training with her teammates.
“During the 1991 war in Iraq, we were locked down inside our homes along with the whole population of Gaza for weeks by orders of the Israeli occupation,” al-Zubaidi recalled cheerfully. “This was a good chance for me to practice my favorite sport.”
Al-Zubaidi’s international sporting career began in 1996-1997 when she represented Palestinian universities in a championship in Jordan.
Hailing from the central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah, al-Zubaidi insists that despite the increasing conservatism of Gaza, women should still participate in sports.
“Look, the people are the ones who set the social traditions and customs in any given society. As you see, my husband has allowed me to practice my favorite sport, respecting me the way I have respected him,” al-Zubaidi said. “Women here should be no longer marginalized, frankly. It is enough that we live under siege.”
Stop ignoring equal rights
As she took up sports as a child, al-Zubaidi hopes her ten-year-old daughter will do the same. “I do hope she will have the chance like me to practice her favorite activities and that our community will stop ignoring women’s equal rights to men,” al-Zubaidi added.
The youngest team member is Hadeel Saba, aged 13, from Gaza City, who got her start playing at the Christian Youth Association in Gaza.
“I feel that I have freed myself from the occupation and I feel I am defying the occupation by means of my sports and being able to participate in a championship abroad,” Saba said.
Reem al-Zaeem, 23, a graduate in information technology, was just as enthusiastic as her teammates.
“I began my career as a table tennis player during high school, then I went on playing at university. We have been training here at the club for the past five weeks and we are excited to take part in the upcoming contest,” al-Zaeem said.
Her family has been fully supportive of her efforts. “Our social traditions here do not allow us to get involved in such activities but my own family has really encouraged me to play table tennis without impediments,” al-Zaeem added. “I do hope to represent Palestine in more worldwide competitions in the future, God willing.”
The fourth member of the team is Yasmine Eliyan, 28 years old.
Khamis al-Habet, the team’s coach, looks forward to better conditions for women’s sports in Gaza.
“Currently, the team trains three days a week for a couple of hours only,” he explained. “I have made contacts with the Egyptian sports club of al-Ahli to see if it can host the team for four days of intensive training before the championships start.”
“This is first time for the team to participate in an international championship. Our women will possibly play against very skillful Chinese women players,” al-Habet said.
Encouraging women’s athletics in Gaza
Gaza women have a history as sports pioneers. Sanna Abubkheet, a runner, was one of only three athletes, and the first and only woman, to represent Palestine in the Olympics at Athens in 2004.
At the time, her travails, training in difficult conditions, without any sponsors and only a single pair of running shoes, and in a full-length track suit to avoid some local disapproval, made world headlines.
Women athletes still face considerable barriers. The al-Jazeera Sports Club was established in 2007 by a group of local businessmen. The club is licensed by the sports and youth ministry, which is controlled by the Hamas party.
Ali al-Nazli, the club’s director, and himself a well-known former athlete in Gaza, spoke to The Electronic Intifada about the development of women’s sports in territory.
Women’s athletics in the Gaza Strip have been limited and confined to closed areas such as gyms or certain women’s associations or clubs. According to the socially conservative norms in Gaza, women do not do sports or exercise in public.
“We are the first-ever club in Gaza that has taken the initiative. For the past couple of years, we have organized a number of sports activities such as swimming classes for women in closed areas with the help of female trainers; we managed to train more than 150 women of different ages,” al-Nazli said.
According to al-Nazli, the youth and sports ministry has approved the club’s activities relating to women.
“We have broken the barrier that is in the face of women’s sports in Gaza,” he said.
Ruba al-Zubaidi and her team mates are undaunted by the ongoing challenges:
“We are proud to take part in such the championship, coming out of the Israeli blockade of Gaza.”
Rami Almeghari is a journalist and university lecturer based in the Gaza Strip.
Source: http://electronicintifada.net/content/women-athletes-break-barriers-inside-and-outside-gaza/10427
7/28/12
Commissioned by Qatar Museums Authority, Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport, the first exhibition in London by the internationally renowned photographer Brigitte Lacombe with the documentary maker Marian Lacombe, opened on July 24, 2012 at Sotheby’s Gallery in London in the presence of QMA’s Chief Executive Officer Mansoor Al Khater. The exhibition will stay on view until 11 August 2012 in conjunction with the XXX Olympiad in London.
The exhibition features a brand new series of large-scale photographs by Brigitte Lacombe of more than 50 Arab sportswomen, from beginners to Olympians, from 20 different Arab countries, shown alongside videos by her sister, Marian Lacombe, which situate the images within the women’s personal histories and a wider – often unspoken – discourse of gender, culture and sport in the Arab world.
The exhibition was conceived by the Qatar Museums Authority, combining its long-standing commitment to commissioning and showing the work of internationally renowned artists with the wider goal of the country to drive forward Qatar’s aim of educating and sparking debate about sport, and of persuading more girls to find a way to participate. Commenting on the importance of this exhibition, QMA CEO Mansoor Al Khater said: “This exhibition is a reflection of our belief in the power of culture in breaking down social barriers and building bridges between people of all nations and backgrounds. QMA is committed to enlarging the cultural debate and creating a platform for the voice of Qatar.”
The project, shot over a period of seven months, began in December 2011, in the Athletes Village at the Arab Games in Doha, where Brigitte and Marian Lacombe set up a specially created outdoor studio, working side by side. Thereafter they travelled working with women athletes of all ages and levels of achievement in countries from the Arabian Gulf to North Africa. With the support of Qatar’s Aspire programme, which promotes sporting opportunities for young people, they also worked with the talented younger generation of sporting hopefuls.
Award-winning French photographer Brigitte Lacombe lives in New York City. Over the last thirty years, she has worked extensively on assignments in magazines, the theatre and film. The long list of legendary directors she has worked with include Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Mike Nichols, Sam Mendes, Michael Haneke, David Mamet, Quentin Tarantino, Spike Jonze, and since 1983 she has worked on all David Mamet’s productions. Her work has been extensively published including two monographs (2001 and 2009). Since 2009, she has been working on an ongoing project for the Doha Film Institute and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival in Qatar. Entitled, I am Film, this is a collection of portraits of international filmmaker and actors, with an emphasis on filmmakers from the Middle East region.
Marian Lacombe works as an independent documentary film-maker, following 20 years as a reporter, anchorwoman and editor-in-chief on daily news and magazines for the French tv channel M6 in Paris. She has directed documentaries on filmmakers, choreographers and designers such as Robert Altman, Philippe Decouflé and Christian Lacroix. Since 2010, she has been working with Brigitte Lacombe for the Doha Film Institute photographic project I am Film. She also travels around the world filming and working on travel assignments for Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.
QMA Gallery at the Cultural Village, Katara, will play host to the Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport exhibition in February 2013. An extensive educational program will complement this exhibition aiming to engage visitors. Hey’Ya, the title of the exhibition is an Arabic expression meaning Let’s Go.
Photo credits:
Photo #1: Artist Brigitte Lacombe
Photo #2: QMA CEO Mansoor Al-Khater
Photo #3: From right to left- Khalid Al-Mansouri - Qatar Ambassador to the UK, Julia Peyton Jones - Serpentine Gallery, H.E. Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani - Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee, Brigitte Lacombe - Artist, Robin Woodhead - Chairman Sotheby's and Mansoor Al-Khater - Qatar Museums Authority CEO.
7/24/12
Palestinian female Olympian: 'Miracles do happen'
By Matthew Chance and Caroline Cheese, CNN
(CNN) -- Woroud Sawalha knows she won't win a medal at the London Olympics. She isn't likely to get beyond the first round of the 800 meters.
But for the 20-year-old and her three teammates, just competing under the Palestinian flag is a source of pride.
The appearance itself is controversial: the U.N. does not recognize a Palestinian state but athletes have been allowed to compete under a Palestinian flag by the International Olympic Committee and soccer's ruling body FIFA since 1996 and 1998 respectively.
"It means a lot for me that I am female and representing Palestine," she told CNN's Aiming For Gold. "I will represent my hometown Asira ash-Shamaliya, Palestine and my university."
Asira ash-Shamaliya is a village of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in the northern West Bank, where protests and tear gas form part of everyday life in a region still fighting for independence from Israel after two decades of struggle.
Sawalha, who will be immediately recognizable by her black headscarf, long-sleeved top and long trousers, knows that when she steps up to the line in London, she won't just be representing herself.
"This will reflect on my female friends and on sports in Palestine," she said. "Maybe the view of girls will change from practicing sports in a more professional way and more freely in front of people."
The International Olympic Committee is hopeful that the 2012 Games will be the first to feature female athletes on every team.
Three teams have never sent women. Palestinians have competed in the Olympics under their flag since 1996, sending their first female athlete in 2000.
However, Sawalha believes the fact that she was only told six months ago that she would be going to London is a sign of how lightly women's sport is taken in the Palestinian territories.
She had her first taste of top-level international competition earlier this year at the world indoor championships in Istanbul.
She clocked two minutes 51.87 seconds in her heat for a personal best that was still more than 53 seconds slower than the gold medal-winning time.
Given her lack of preparation and the scant training resources available in her homeland, Sawalha knows a medal is beyond her, so her target is to further improve her personal best.
"Miracles do happen, and with God's help I will hopefully get a good result," she said. "Since they selected me for the Olympics, my running time has gone from four minutes to just under three, so I've seen a big improvement."
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/17/sport/olympics-palestinian-london-2012/index.html
(CNN) -- Woroud Sawalha knows she won't win a medal at the London Olympics. She isn't likely to get beyond the first round of the 800 meters.
But for the 20-year-old and her three teammates, just competing under the Palestinian flag is a source of pride.
The appearance itself is controversial: the U.N. does not recognize a Palestinian state but athletes have been allowed to compete under a Palestinian flag by the International Olympic Committee and soccer's ruling body FIFA since 1996 and 1998 respectively.
"It means a lot for me that I am female and representing Palestine," she told CNN's Aiming For Gold. "I will represent my hometown Asira ash-Shamaliya, Palestine and my university."
Asira ash-Shamaliya is a village of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in the northern West Bank, where protests and tear gas form part of everyday life in a region still fighting for independence from Israel after two decades of struggle.
Sawalha, who will be immediately recognizable by her black headscarf, long-sleeved top and long trousers, knows that when she steps up to the line in London, she won't just be representing herself.
"This will reflect on my female friends and on sports in Palestine," she said. "Maybe the view of girls will change from practicing sports in a more professional way and more freely in front of people."
The International Olympic Committee is hopeful that the 2012 Games will be the first to feature female athletes on every team.
Three teams have never sent women. Palestinians have competed in the Olympics under their flag since 1996, sending their first female athlete in 2000.
However, Sawalha believes the fact that she was only told six months ago that she would be going to London is a sign of how lightly women's sport is taken in the Palestinian territories.
She had her first taste of top-level international competition earlier this year at the world indoor championships in Istanbul.
She clocked two minutes 51.87 seconds in her heat for a personal best that was still more than 53 seconds slower than the gold medal-winning time.
Given her lack of preparation and the scant training resources available in her homeland, Sawalha knows a medal is beyond her, so her target is to further improve her personal best.
"Miracles do happen, and with God's help I will hopefully get a good result," she said. "Since they selected me for the Olympics, my running time has gone from four minutes to just under three, so I've seen a big improvement."
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/17/sport/olympics-palestinian-london-2012/index.html
11/2/10
Bahrain women clinch third spot - By Rami Hulayyel, on Oct 28
BAHRAIN hammered Palestine 5-1 yesterday to secure the bronze medal in the Women's Football Cup Arabia 2010.
The home side dominated the show in the consolation match for third place, held at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Bahrain's goals included a brace from Manar Yaqoob while Reem Al Hashimi, Marwa Al Majjri and Shaikha Al Anood Al Khalifa fired one each.
It took the hosts just 11 minutes to threaten the Palestinians. Shaikha Al Anood almost put the ball into the back of the net, but her shot went wide.
Four minutes later, Bahrain came close to being awarded a penalty when Al Hashmi was brought down the 18-yard box. But Lebanese referee Hoda El Awadi waved play on.
Bahrain didn't wait too long for their first goal, which came in the 22nd minute. Palestine's fullback Hamama Jorban handled the ball deliberately inside the area and the referee this time showed no hesitation in awarding Bahrain a penalty. It was successfully taken by Al Hashmi who sent Palestinian goalkeeper and skipper Jaklin Jazrawi to the wrong side.
Bahrain, who have a better Asian ranking of 15 compared to Palestine's 21, continued to rule the proceedings with Shaikha Al Anood, Al Hashmi and Muna Al Dayysi making a string of inroads.
But hundreds of supporters waited till the 49th minute to see Bahrain double their advantage with Yaqoob scoring her first goal in the game. The tall defender bounced on a free-kick by Bahrain captain Yasmine Fayez which came off the bar.
Bahrain put the scores beyond reach scoring the third goal 10 minutes later when Yaqoob used her shoulder to secure her double off Al Hashmi's corner-kick.
It could have been 4-0 in the 72nd minute, but Al Daaysi's goal was disallowed for offside.
The Bahraini girls continued to press forward and hit the fourth in the 80th minute through Al Majry who punished the goalkeeper's wrong judgement to chip the ball into the back of the net.
Then it was Shaikha Al Anood's turn to complete the rout, scoring Bahrain's fifth goal, and her seventh goal in the tournament, with six minutes remaining after a neat pass from Al Hashmi.
Palestine had very little chances in front of the Bahrain goal, well-guarded by Shaikha Nouf bint Khalid Al Khalifa.
But the visitors had something to salvage in the last minute of the game when they capitalised on a penalty kick, which was well taken by Natalie Shaheen.
In today's final, Egypt and Jordan will clash for the trophy and the gold medal. The match, which begins at 6pm, will be held under the patronage of Princess Sabika bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Women's Supreme Council chairwoman.
10/21/10
Bahrain women reach last four in Women's Football Cup Arabia 2010
BAHRAIN scored a thrilling 3-1 victory over Syria last night to book their berth in the semi-finals of the Women's Football Cup Arabia 2010, being held in the kingdom.
The nationals opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort from Reem Al Hashimi, but the Syrians equalised through Manar Fayez Al Mhanaa two minutes before the break to pave the way for a cut-throat second-half.
But just before the interval, Syria were reduced to 10 men after Manar Mounir Mounthe was shown red for a rash challenge, and Bahrain made the most of their advantage with their two winning goals in the final 45 minutes.
Shaikha Al Anood Al Khalifa restored their lead on the hour mark with a superb display of skill, before Manar Yaqoob Jassin secured the win with a header and only a quarter-hour remaining in the game.
With the result, the Bahrainis claimed their second triumph in as many matches and are now second in group 'A' of the preliminary round.
Palestine rose to the top of the division after crushing Qatar 18-0 in yesterday's other fixture at Al Ahli.
Caroline Sohgian scored five goals to spearhead the Palestinians, who also claimed a semi-final slot with their victory. Natali Shaheen added another four, as Palestine took a 5-0 lead into half-time before continuing their rout the rest of the way.
Bahrain and Palestine meet in their final preliminary round contest tomorrow. The winner will advance to the final four as group winners, while the losers will march on as runners-up.
"We have achieved our first goal in this tournament, which was to qualify for the semi-finals; now we are determined to win the number one spot and continue our good play," Bahrain head coach Khaled Al Harban told the GDN after the match.
Al Harban was one of the centres of attention in a wild opening half last night that contributed to what was arguably the most exciting game of the competition thus far.
With Bahrain leading 1-0 after Reem made an unstoppable run down the left to score from an acute angle, captain Yasmeen Fayez Fouad was given a yellow card after an errant tackle. Coach Al Harban was incensed by the call, and due to his excessive protests, was banished from the touch line by Egyptian referee Howida Hassan.
That was followed moments later by Syria's lone goal in the 43rd minute - a rocket by Mounthe from nearly 30 yards out that Bahraini goalkeeper Huda Ali Salman was powerless to stop.
The Syrian celebrations were cut short, however, when Manar was sent off the very next minute.
Bahrain came into the second-half a different team and dominated possession from the outset.
Shaikha Al Anood put them back ahead after latching onto a high ball from teammate Manar and then rounding a Syrian defender while sprinting towards goal. Shaikha Al Anood then struck from just outside the box, scoring to make it 2-1 despite pressure from the opposing back line.
Manar then capped the win with Bahrain's third from a corner, won following fine approach play from both Marwa Al Majjri and Muna Injenair. Manar rose above the Syrian defenders and headed home from close range.
Source: http://m.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=289554
10/20/10
First Day Scores in The Women’s Football World Cup Arabia 2010
JORDAN sent out a stern warning to their chief title-rivals in the Women's Football Cup Arabia 2010 last night with a 20-0 drubbing of Iraq in a one-sided group 'B' match played at Al Ahli Club stadium in Mahooz.
Maysa Zaid Mahmood spearheaded the victors in the rout, scoring seven of her team's goals including three in the opening half when they hit the Iraqi net for 11.
The Jordanians cruised the rest of the way, and Maysa capped their impressive salvo with three successive goals minutes before the final whistle to secure their dream start to the competition, which is being held under the patronage of Princess Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
Jordan's impressive showing came a day after hosts Bahrain defeated Qatar 17-0 in group 'A'. The Jordanians and Bahrainis are among the tournament favourites.
Iraq, comprised mostly of youngsters in their teens, had reason to celebrate despite the massive defeat, as the game marked the first-ever Fifa-sanctioned international match for their women's national football team.
Meanwhile, Egypt overcame a tough challenge from Lebanon to win 5-1 in yesterday's other group 'B' contest.
Fadwa Atef Ebrahim scored a brace to lead the Egyptians to the win. Like Jordan, they are on three points as the top two teams in the group.
In the Jordanians' lopsided win, nine different players made it onto the score sheet. Stephanie Mazen Yousef was their second-best scorer tallying five goals including a double in the opening six minutes that got her squad going.
Heroics
By the match's 20th minute, Maysa, Stephanie and Farah Emad Ahmed had found the net that put them ahead 6-0. Maysa had already completed her hat-trick at that point.
They continued to apply the pressure the rest of the half, and both Mira Khaled Khalil and Ala'a Fouad Daoud got in on the scoring action.
Starting the second half, Maysa picked up from where they left off and scored her fourth goal to make it 12-0. Minutes later, Shorooq Khalil Mohammed, Enshirah Ebrahim Mohammed, Shahnaz Yaseen Mahmood and Sama Samir Hamad each added a goal to make it 16-0, before Stephanie struck once more to give her side a 17th.
That paved the way for Maysa to apply the finishing touches and seal the well-deserved win.
"The first match is always the most difficult in any tournament, so I am very happy that we have won and taken our first three points," Jordan coach Maher Abu Hantash said at the post-match Press conference.
"Our aim today was to score as many goals as we can because it will be tough when we play Egypt and Lebanon in our remaining group games. We want to be first in our group and qualify for the semi-finals as the best team, and then hopefully from there make it to the final and win."
For Iraq, coach Salam Omar was not too depressed knowing that his players, some of whom are as young as 13, had achieved something nobody had ever done before them.
"This is our very first official international match, and just for us to be here is already something we are very pleased about," he said.
"It was a real challenge for us to participate in this tournament. We didn't have many players to choose from, and before coming here, three more of our girls suffered injuries, so our squad now is depleted.
"But we will continue to play hard in every game, gain experience, and do the best we can."
Tournament action continues today with another two matches at Al Ahli. At 5.30pm, Qatar take on Palestine followed at 8pm by Bahrain going against Syria.
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