Preparatory Committee of AWST 2020 Discusses Agenda Items

The Preparatory Committee for the Arab Women Sports Tournament 2020, AWST 2020, has held its second strategy meeting, to discuss six new action points in the run-up to the preparations for the fifth edition, that will be taking place in Sharjah.

Chaired by Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Chairperson of AWST’s Preparatory Committee, the meeting for AWST 2020, explored areas related to improving the quality of competitions and arrangements, that will be required to organise the event smoothly. The Arab Women Sports Tournament is considered to be the Arab world’s largest women’s sporting event.

Members of the organising council unveiled the increasing number of participants from 16 Arab nations, where participations will take place across all of AWST’s 9 sports that include, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, fencing, archery, shooting, athletics, show jumping and karate.

Another agenda of this meeting was to identify, selection of games and criteria for honouring winners. To encourage the engagement of audience participation, the road map for the event also witnessed the introduction of two new trophies, in a bid to felicitate energetic spectators effectively both offline and online.

The attendees also concurred that the invitations for AWST 2020 would be extended to all the Arab Olympic Committees on 9th April 2019. New recommendations and solutions for the forthcoming edition were also presented at this meeting, to overcome any logistical and technical challenges.

The Board of members then participated in an initiative called ‘Peace and Sport’ where together members held up a ‘White Card’ symbolising inclusion, equality and peace. A United Nations initiative, every year, the #WhiteCard campaign is celebrated widely on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, that’s observed on April 6.

The meeting also reviewed the development plan for the AWST 2020 edition, which was initially presented during the committee’s seminar in Bahrain, in October 2018. It further entailed discussions from the minutes of a former meeting that had taken place with the representatives of the Arab Sports Associations, who participated in AWST 2018.

During the meeting, Sheikha Hayat said, "The Emirate of Sharjah is dedicated to ensuring the fifth edition of AWST 2020 aligns with the highest and most prestigious international standards. The tournament is considered a yardstick for women’s sport in the region today, which aims at advancing women's sports sector in the Arab world. AWST follows the vision Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of SWSF, backed by integrated efforts of all local and Arab Olympic committees and sports federations, to offer Arab female athletes a world-class platform to come together to compete professionally and advance their careers internationally".

She further said, "I also take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prince Talal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, President of the Arab Sports Council and Chairman of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, UANOC, whose unwavering support plays a vital role in helping Arab female athletes, to express their talent, and compete at global sporting events".

Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Director-General of SWSF and Member of its Preparatory Committee, said, "This meeting is a testimony to the Sustainability Development Goals, SDGs, that the Arab Women Sports Tournament is committed to, by engaging even more high-level Arab involvement in this important sporting arena".