Turki Al-Asheikh, president of the Saudi Arabian General Authority for Sport, made the announcement. From 2018, women will be able to attend matches at the stadium together with their families.
In Saudi Arabia, women can finally go to the stadium. The General Authority for Sport has decided as much, announcing the preparation of three stadiums – in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam – to accommodate families. Cafés and restaurants will be set up, and from next year women will be able to join their husbands and sons in watching matches. As far back as 23 September, the government had already allowed women to attend King Fahd Stadium for the celebrations marking the 87th anniversary of the founding of the kingdom, with certain stands set aside specifically for them.
This is another victory for Saudi women, who about a month ago celebrated King Salman's decision to allow them to drive from 2018. Both measures form part of a reform programme – Vision 2030 – promoted by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and President of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs. The prince aims to modernise the country and to involve women in the economy and in the development process.
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Gender equality is still a long way off, but the country is showing itself open to a path moving in that direction: among other things, the president of the General Authority for Sport, Turki Al-Asheikh, chose a woman – Princess Reema bint Bandar – to head the Saudi Federation for Sports Communities: the princess is working hard to encourage women to keep fit and has opened a new gym in Jeddah, Studio 5. Al-Asheikh is also president of the Saudi Arabia Olympic Committee. At the 2012 London Olympics, two Saudi women competed for the first time: Sarah Attar in the 800 metres and Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani in judo. In 2016 at Rio, four of the country's athletes took part in the games: we hope that at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics that number will continue to grow.
