How far has UAE Athletic Federation succeeded in attracting women into athletics?
We have some very good talent among women in javelin and sprint events. UAE has already won the silver medal in Pan Arab Games Under-18 event in Cairo and one girl is running in the West Asian Athletics meet in Syria this week. So you think that by organising a 5km event you can increase the number of women athletes in the UAE? This is just a beginning. This race is being held under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The event is run by women and organised by women. In the Athletics Federation we have a woman board member in Sahar Al Oubath, who is in charge of women’s athletics and road running. Is the 5km run open for everyone and can women from other countries also take part? It is open for everyone — expatriates, nationals and from all over the world. Runners have already registered from a few GCC countries and England. Though there is still one
