The first ever Female Sports Journalist Forum takes placetomorrow at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre duringthe third Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2016), hosted by Sharjah between February 2-12.Held under the slogan “It’s Your Turn”, the forum is the first of its kind in the Arab world specifically forfemale sports journalists and will feature three panel sessions with professional sports personalities. The forum will open with a short film called “Women and Sports Media” and this will befollowed by the first panel discussion titled “Contemporary Challenges...Me or Him,” moderated by Hussah Al Rayyasi, Dubai Sports channel presenter. The session will be attended by Layla Samati, sports commentator on beIN Sports channels; Mohammed Jamil Abdul Qadir, president of the Arab Union of Sports Press; Evelyn Wata, member of the executive committee of the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS) and Roes Al Musaifri from beIN Sports channels.
The second panel discussion titled “New Media and Sports”will be moderated by Hind Mohammed, Sada Al Balad TV presenter. The session will host Amjad Al Monif, journalist, blogger and CEO of Eleven Communication and PR, and Abdul Rasool Abdullah, CEO of the “Sports for All” Group. It will highlight the careers of two distinguished female athletes, Egyptian squash player, Habiba Mohamed Ahmedand Moroccan volleyball player, Thuraya Erab.Ola Faris, anchor and program presenter in the MBC TV Network will moderate the third panel discussion called “Success Formula”featuringMervat Hussein, the first Sudanese sports journalist; Susan Shalabi, member of the women's committee in the Asian Football Federation; Adnan Hamad, prominent Emirati media person and sports commentator and Amal Ismail, Sports Journalist at Roya newspaper. The third and finalsession will have the forum’s closing statement and recommendations.Nada Al Naqbi, Deputy Head of the Supreme Organising Committee for the Arab Women Sports Tournament, Head of the Executive Committee and Tournament Manager, said: “Organising the Female Sports Journalist Forum is a new development added to the tournament that reflects the Organising Committee's eagerness to support women in sports in every capacity, introduce new events and make every possible effort to develop Arab women’s sports at all levels.”
Al Naqbi said the forumalso aims to provide a road map for women who wantto enter the field of sports media, or those who wish to further develop their sports media skills. She said, “Presentation of different experiences and examples of successful female professionals in the sports fields, whether athletes, journalists or titleholders shows how women have enriched the sports media scene in various media fields. Women have long been proactive in the media and more women are now seeking to make a career in sports journalism.”Noon Sports Corporation sponsored the first Female Sports Journalist Forum and will launch the first Regional Arab Women Sports Magazine at the forum to enrich the sports media content with Arab women's achievements in sporting events across the world.
A spokesperson said that there wassignificant development and progress achieved by Arab sportswomen after the sports field was confined to men previously. She said: “Noon Sports Corporation's sponsorship falls within the corporation's objectives and its keenness to develop women's sports and sports media as a key partner of success.”The Supreme Organising Committee of the Arab Women Sports Tournament has chosen the first 40 female media personnel who registered their names via the official website of the tournament, and who met the qualifying criteria, to have the costs of their accommodation, visas, and transportation covered free of charge.
Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST):
AWST is hosted by Sharjah every two years under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. Following the success of Gulf Countries Competition (GCC), a sports competition organised by the Sharjah Ladies Club, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi established the Women Sports Department in 2008 and opened the GCC to all Arab countries in order to raise the profile of women's sports in the region. The tournament is the first of its kind in the Arab World and was launched in 2012. Contestants participate in eight games including basketball, volleyball, table tennis, fencing, archery, shooting, athletics and show jumping.
AWST – Sharjah 2016 Sponsors:
The Arab Women's Sports Tournament enjoys the support of several leading organizations in the UAE, including the Platinum Sponsor, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), the Golden Sponsor, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), and four Bronze Sponsors: Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority; Golf and Shooting Club Sharjah; Sharjah International Airport and Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre. Sharjah Media Corporation is the tournament’s strategic media sponsor, the media sponsors are National Network Communications and Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing. Presenting Media Sponsor is Sharjah Media. Fast Building Contracting Company is the strategic sponsor of SLC’s sports teams, Air Arabia is the official airline, Sharjah Sports TV is the official television channel and the official contractor for hospitality services, Kunooz Events & Catering with the supporting sponsor, Zalal.