Again the best
Egypt's Sahar El-Hawwari has been recognised for the most outstanding contribution in the year to women's sports.
Inas Mazhar attended the awards ceremony in Morocco
Sahar El-Hawwari has become the first Arab to be awarded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) world trophy for the second time.
In 2001, El-Hawwari, a member of FIFA's Women's Committee, won the trophy representing Africa in appreciation of her extensive efforts in the field of women and sports, in particular women's football.
Three years later, El-Hawwari has again received the trophy, this time from IOC president Jacques Rogge after the opening ceremony of the Third World Conference of Women and Sports in Marrakech, Morocco under the patronage of King Mohamed VI.
FIFA President Joseph Blatter put El- Hawwari's name up for candidacy to receive the trophy as a representative of the federation in appreciation and recognition of her efforts in the game.
Donna de Verona, a member of the IOC Women and Sports Working Group, introduced El-Hawwari as a great supporter of women's football and praised her efforts, saying she had helped introduce the game in Africa, the Arab and Islamic world and had fought all obstacles that faced her "until women's football was finally recognised in this part of the world".
De Verona added that El-Hawwari had "surprised the IOC with her eagerness, devotion and contribution to the game to the extent that the IOC had to support her nomination for the trophy for the second time in three years ever since she won the IOC trophy for Africa".
The FIFA Women's World Cup has largely contributed to the participation and development of women in football since its creation in 1986. It promoted the acceptance of female rights to play the sport and provided a worldwide example of the participation of women on the playing field as well as in leadership positions.
The popularity of the event gained in importance over the years as it showed an increased worldwide interest. In terms of opportunities for women, the 1999 Women's World Cup also saw the advent of the event's policy of using all female referees, enabling maximum opportunities for women referees to officiate at the highest level.
The 2003 Women's World Cup also saw an increase in the number of national teams headed by female coaches.
Other trophies went to Khelili Messaouda of Algeria who has developed a broad programme to promote the participation of women in sport in Africa.
Ferdows Ara Khanam of Bangladesh won the trophy for Asia for striving to promote the increased participation of women and girls in sports at all levels, and developing training programmes for girls in swimming, chess, gymnastics, handball, volleyball and athletics in the country.
The European trophy went to Russia's Galina Gorokhova for managing a national programme related to the social adaptation of athletes and the involvement of sports veterans into active social life.
The trophy for Oceania went to Lorraine Landon of Australia for the development of women's basketball.
The trophy for The Americas was not awarded this year as the selection committee did not reach agreement on the winner.
