19 - 25 April 2001
Issue No.530
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 19 - 25 April 2001 Issue No.530 |
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She deserves it
She's a pioneer, a battler and a survivor. All three attributes have made Egypt's Sahar El-Hawari worthy of an International Olympics Committee (IOC) accolade. The woman whose fierce determination is an example for all women -- and men for that matter -- to emulate. was this week recognised by the IOC for the outstanding contributions she has made to promote women in sport.
The sport of football to be sure. Although El-Hawari's achievements in the field in which she was honoured are many, she is best known for helping create public awareness of women's football and engendered a debate about the formation of the first Egyptian women's football team, particularly after the sport became an official medal event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The event, which was broadcast live by Egyptian TV, was instrumental in giving wider exposure to the game and led, after years of struggle, to the formation of the first Egyptian Football Association (EFA) women's football committee with El-Hawari at the helm. Consequently, she became the first EFA female board member.
In listing El-Hawari's litany of accomplishments, she has beaten many of her colleagues to the punch. In 1997, she founded the first women's football league in Egypt; organised the first Arab women's football tournament in Egypt with six participating countries. (The event received extensive press coverage and was broadcast live by several satellite channels); a member of the first batch of women referees in Egypt; founded the first Egyptian women's cup in 1999 which included 12 teams; one of the founders of the first women's football team, Maaden, and is currently the squad's general director; the first woman TV football commentator, for the second FIFA women's World Cup in 1995 in Sweden.
There's more on the list. El-Hawari was instrumental in having girl's football played at schools starting from primary level. And abroad, she helped Jordan organise a women's football tournament in Amman under the auspices of Queen Rania.
Armed with a doctorate from London whose thesis tackled the role of the mass media in promoting women's football in Egypt, she published a report on the problems besetting women's football in developing countries. As chairwoman of the Arab Women's Football Committee, she has the task of finding ways and means to promote and strengthen women's football organisations in Arab and Islamic countries.
In the middle of all this personal success, she has tried to ensure that women are adequately represented on the executive boards of sports bodies.
Mother of a 12-year-old boy, El-Hawari long ago decided that landing a hubby would not be, like many other women, her sole goal in life. But her passion to get women's football to see the light of day has been tested by norms, customs and traditions in a society and a region which sees the game as alien, even unIslamic.
The task to change minds and ingrained beliefs is daunting and uphill. But it is doubtful the problems will stop the work of this ever-ready woman who is literally on the ball.
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