Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match Friday, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes. The new measure comes after Riyadh, long known for imposing harsh restrictions on women, announced it was lifting a ban prohibiting them from driving, as well as reopening cinemas. Women supporters, all wearing the traditional black abaya robe, arrived well ahead of Friday’s kick-off in the Jeddah stadium, some in sunglasses and others with loose-fitting veils. The Islamic kingdom has announced a series of reforms initiated by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since last year. The first football match women are being allowed to attend is a clash between Saudi Premier League clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Batin in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. Alone or accompanied by their families, many women sat in reserved seats in Jeddah’s Pearl stadium. Glass panels were set up to separate men supporters from the women and family section of the stadium. Saleh al-Ziadi brought his three daughters to the game. “My daughters still don’t believe this is happening. They have not yet realised they will be cheering their favourite team inside the stadium,” he said. Enthusiasm for the historic encounter began well before the scheduled 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) kick-off. ‘Prosperous future’ Lamya Khaled Nasser, a 32-year-old football fan from Jeddah, said she was proud and looking forward to the match. “This event proves that we are heading for a prosperous future. I am… [Read full story]
Vietnam has high hopes for Group C’s sole ticket to enter the final round of the 2010 Asian Women’s Football Championship, as its two rivals-Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong-are considered weaker teams. Vietnam will face Kyrgyzstan in the first match for Group C in the second qualifying round of the championship slated for July 4 in Ho Chi Minh City. The host will meet Hong Kong in another match on July 8. Kyrgyzstan, a newcomer to the international playground, lost to Uzbekistan, who were defeated by Vietnam 4-0 in a friendly match on June 28, while Hong Kong has been unable…... [read more]
Deema al-Mashabi is eager to show off the gold brocade decorating the folds of her abaya. She designed her own robe — the traditionally all-black, enveloping gown that observant Muslim women wear in public. Photo: Reuters/Arlene Getz For al-Mashabi, appearing in public in a customized style is not just a fashion statement, but a symbol of the changes taking place in her native Saudi Arabia. "A lot of women are designing their own abayas now," she said of her reversible garment. Indeed, the glitzed-up abayas being seen all over Saudi Arabia, stand as a metaphor for the gains women are…... [read more]
(Cinet) – On the afternoon of November 09, the MOCST and Vietnam Airlines organized the send-off ceremony for Vietnam sports to attend SEA Games 26 at the Noi Bay airport. Minister of the MOCST Hoang Tuan Anh and head of General Department of Sports and Physical Training and Olympic Committee appeared at the Noi Bai airport in order to encourage and send some messages to some athletes attending SEA Games 26. Addressing at the send-off ceremony, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh encourages some players to participate the sporting festival in the best way. At the ceremony, 11 Vietnam sports participate into…... [read more]
Vietnam is high hopes of snagging Group C's sole ticket to enter the final round of the 2010 Asian Women's Football Championship, as both its rivals - Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong - are considered weaker teams. Vietnam will face Kyrgyzstan in the first match for Group C in the second qualifying round of the championship slated for July 4 in Ho Chi Minh City. The host will meet Hong Kong in another match on July 8. Kyrgyzstan, a newcomer to the international playground, lost to Uzbekistan , who were defeated by Vietnam 4-0 in a friendly match on June 28,…... [read more]
A woman drives a car in Saudi Arabia October 22, 2013 Activists are asking Saudi women to go on driving in public and posting online photographs or films of themselves doing so, after putting dozens of such videos on YouTube in recent weeks.A video posted online on Sunday showed a woman in the black headscarf typically worn by Saudi women driving with her son to and from Kingdom Hospital in north Riyadh earlier in the day."The campaign continues, in order to normalize driving in our country, whose laws allow the practice of this right," said a Tweet posted on…... [read more]
