21 - 27 December 2000
Issue No.513
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 December 2000 Issue No.513 |
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A woman in a man's world
By Dalia El-Hennawy
Sahar El-Hawary is on the verge of achieving something no Arab woman has. Nominated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the head of the Egyptian Women's Football Federation could wind up the winner of the annual Women and Sports Trophy, awarded to whoever consistently promotes the advancement of women in sport at all levels.
El-Hawari winning one of her many awards
The award is also in recognition of an outstanding contribution to develop, encourage and strengthen the participation of women and girls in physical activities, in coaching and in administrative leadership. It goes to the individual who best promotes women's sports in the media. A world trophy -- which El-Hawary is up for -- and five continental trophies are awarded each year.
The award can go to a man, a woman or an institution, to be nominated by their sports federations and national Olympic committees.
In El-Hawary's case, candidates should have participated in spreading and developing women's game in its different aspects like administrative and technical management; they should have had an impact on a sport they formally played at the local and international level; participated in the preparation of all aspects of the game; be a pioneer in the development of the game and women's sports in particular.
The IOC must have liked what it saw when it flipped through El-Hawary's portfolio: a Ph.D. on the role of mass media in promoting women's football in Egypt as a model for developing countries; a football referee in the Egyptian Football Federation; a local organising committee member in the 1997 U-17 World Cup held in Egypt; a member of FIFA; president of the first Arab league for women's football.
El-Hawary remains best known for introducing women's football -- a male-dominated sport -- in Egypt, a male-oriented society. Four years ago she helped found the first women's football league in Egypt. For many of both sexes, there was a certain degree of satisfaction, even sadism, at seeing a woman struggle to give birth to something that never existed.
"The battles have been great and I thank those who helped me as well as those who stood in my way because, as they say, where there's a will there's a way," says El-Hawary, showing a good measure of sportsmanship and harbouring no resentment against those who have reservations about women's football in this part of the world.
El-Hawary readily concedes that those who considered her for the award did not do so because of any hardships she might have endured, "but for the efforts I showed in spreading, developing and encouraging the game on national and international levels."
El-Hawary, whose father Ezzat was a famed referee in the 1970s, thinks the time will come when women will be the saviour. "Everyone around the world should realise that we have women football stars just like the men and that if the men don't achieve anything for Egypt at the international level there are always the women."
El-Hawary called her nomination a great honour and a thrilling surprise, "but I do feel we deserve it after all the time and energy we put into the game."
Even if she eventually wins the award, El-Hawary will not rest on her laurels. "I won't stop. I'll keep climbing the ladder to do what I can for these girls and for Egypt. I believe that every step we take, we do it for Egypt, not ourselves."
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