Legal, cultural, and social restrictions are no longer a stumbling block for Saudi women to practice sport, following a recent spate of liberalizations across the country. As part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, women can now exercise and take part in various sports while maintaining their privacy, expanding their dreams from school sports arenas to national-level tournaments.

The move was met with a surge in demand from various segments of society, especially women who saw this as a historic opportunity to highlight their talents and their ability to be active in the community. It also serves in removing the remaining barriers to sport across Saudi society and is projected to end the discrimination that had bound them for decades.

Access to sports for Saudi Arabia’s women began in the early 1960s when sports classes were introduced at private schools in the port city of Jeddah. In 2003, female teams were established in various sports, such as football, basketball, and volleyball. Meanwhile, in 2006, the first women’s sports academy was established in the country. However, sports for women in Saudi Arabia have long remained taboo.

Source Credit: Salaam Gateway