Sheikha Jawaher inaugurates Olympic Centre for Women's Sports in Sharjah
- 22 Feb 2024
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports (SWS), inaugurated the Sharjah Olympic Sports Centre for Women, marking a significant milestone in the UAE’s development of women's sports.
Affiliated with the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club, the centre is located in the Al Falah area of Sharjah. It is the first of its kind in the country, built in record time to the highest international standards. It is intended to be a significant enhancement to support women's transition from amateur to professional sports and contribute to women's sports careers in the UAE.
Following the opening, Sheikha Jawaher inspected the centre's facilities, emphasising its commitment to providing top-notch services for the women's sports system. The centre boasts gymnasiums, open and closed stadiums, and specialised buildings for disciplines such as taekwondo, judo, karate, archery, table tennis, fencing, and more. It includes an Olympic athletics track, a shooting range, and an administrative building with modern amenities, including a medical clinic and a hall for developing sports performance.
Accompanying her on the tour were Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports, and Dr. AbdulAziz Al Noman, Sports Advisor to Sharjah Women’s Sport. During the visit, Sheikha Jawaher met with Sharjah Women’s Sports Club athletes, praising their dedication and performance in the seventh edition of the Arab Women’s Club Games, hosted by Sharjah from 2nd to 12th February, 2024.
In her speech during the opening, Sheikha Jawaher said, "Sheikh Sultan is keen to provide generous support to develop the women’s sports scene and enhance the athletes’ role in this vital sector. So, building this centre and equipping its facilities with the latest devices and technologies was one of the initiatives that translated His Highness’s vision of building a safe and stimulating environment for female players to hone their skills and develop their performance, and provide the necessary training and professional sports expertise to focus on their goals and achieve their ambitions without compromising their societal and family role.”
During her conversation with the athletes, she said, "We were keen to follow our players during the Arab Women's Sports Tournament and witnessed participation in various individual and team sports. I praise your performance and commitment to sports ethics. It teaches the soul to follow regulations and rules, respect opponents, and commit to fair play, which makes sports fun for the player and the observer. Therefore, we recommend that you look back at your time in the tournament to help you develop new plans, loftier goals, and greater ambitions, and let this be an incentive for you to put in the effort, intensify training, and commit to your upcoming participation inside and outside the country.”
In her remarks, Hanan Al Mahmoud considered the centre's opening as the commencement of marking a promising phase for female athletes in Sharjah, which is setting an example in supporting women's sports careers and contributing to their success on the national and global stages, including the Olympics.
She stated, "The strategic location of the centre in Al Falah is of particular importance due to its proximity to new residential areas, which reduces the logistical burden on the players. It allows them to commit to longer training periods, aiming to bring them to the level that qualifies them to represent the club and the country in local, regional, and international tournaments.”
Al Mahmoud added that the centre would witness many more sporting events for female players by the club and outside it and will serve the national teams in general. It will also witness the hosting of camps and preparations for sports teams from inside and outside the country.
She confirmed, "The centre is designated for training, team preparations only, and not for holding official tournaments and matches.” She indicated that the management is about to sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding with many sports bodies and educational institutions inside and outside the country to establish closed camps so that female students can benefit from them during and after the school day, in addition to investing in the centre’s stadiums and facilities to organise sporting events, which will help our experts to find the best athletes to include them in the club teams.
WAM