INSPIRING GENERATIONS
Raha Moharrak joins line-up for 4th ICSW in Abu Dhabi
July 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM
July 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM
Last Updated: July 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM
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ATHLETE and adventurer, Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi woman to scale Mount Everest, has been announced as one of the panellists for the forthcoming International Conference of Sports for Women (ICSW), which will be held from Nov. 6-7 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in the UAE capital. Moharrak will join an assembled group of industry leaders, academics, students and distinguished guests at the two-day conference, to take part in a panel discussion on The Making of a 21st Century Role Model: the Rise of Sports Women in the Arab World.
The prestigious international forum will feature four other panel discussions, in addition to two keynote speeches and six workshops, all revolving around the central theme of ‘Inspiring Generations’. Held under the aegis of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak and organized by the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA), the conference seeks to promote Sheikha Fatima’s vision for sport to become a part of every Emirati woman’s life. In the past, the conference has featured icons of sport such as legendary Brazilian footballer, Marta Da Silva, British double Olympic gold medalist, Kelly Holmes, American Paralympic gold medalist and Guinness World Record holder, Muffy Davis, French Wimbledon Champion, Marion Bartoli and several members of the International Olympic Committee.
Joining the ranks of the conference’s esteemed speakers, Moharrak is expected to share her incredible personal journey and direct experience of breaking down social and sporting barriers in the hopes of inspiring women from around the globe to reach their full potential.
Moharrak grew up in Saudi Arabia and throughout her life felt a longing to break free and do something different, to set off on her own adventure. She began searching for that adventure upon finishing her undergraduate studies, when she found what would become her passion for years to come: mountain climbing. At 25 years, Moharrak set her sights on the iconic challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a feat seemingly farfetched for someone who was still learning the world of mountain climbing.
After successfully reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro in 2011, adventure became a way of life for Moharrak who, in 2013, shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the youngest Arab, and first Saudi, woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Now 30 years old, she has completed several immense climbs of some of the highest peaks across the world.
While continuing to pursue her adventures in mountain climbing, Moharrak hasn’t lost sight of the core issues that have faced her and continue to affect many other women in the region in the pursuit of their sporting aspirations. She utilizes the fame she has attained over the years to spread a message of empowerment to other women, encouraging them to get active and to confront societal expectations. Moharrak also plays a role in pursuing the cause at a higher level through her involvement in campaigns by organizations such as the Human Rights Watch, who are lobbying governments to actively boost women’s role in sports and provide greater support and tools needed to excel within that field.
Moharrak’s participation in this year’s ICSW is rooted in a desire to spread her message of empowerment, inspire others and shed light on the societal issues that face women in the Middle East. She said, “I'm happy to announce my participation at ICSW. I’m always looking to share my story with others, hoping it could give them the inspiration they need to go one step further in chasing their dreams. Platforms such as ICSW are ideal to bring together individuals who are as passionate as I am to address the most critical issues that they face, and to share their hopes and dreams for the future.”
“ICSW is a platform to address critical issues for women in sports in front of some of the most important and influential industry leaders and decision-makers. I’ve always said that to me sport is not about the medals and the prizes; it’s about raising our children to be more active for a healthier future. And so I was very happy to see that ICSW is seeking to promote this vision through the 2017 conference, and I’m proud that I get to be a part of this great initiative,” she added.
The 4th ICSW will be held from Nov. 6-7 November at ADNEC. Registrations are free for all those who wish to attend, but spaces are limited. Those who are interested in attending the conference are encouraged to pre-register at http://fbma.ae/en/icsw/2017/pre-registration/ to receive updates and find out when registrations are open.
Now in its fourth edition, ICSW is an initiative of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) — a milestone event and internationally-recognized platform to promote and support FBMA’s vision for sports to become a part of the daily life of all Emirati women.
The FBMA is a not-for-profit government entity of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Established in October 2010, the Academy is dedicated to promoting and facilitating women’s sports in the UAE. The FBMA strives to make sports an element of daily life for UAE national women of all age, background, and physical condition; to encourage Emirati women to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, and to further instill the values of sport in the public consciousness of the UAE. The FBMA serves this significant mission by hosting a number of local, regional and international sports events; facilitating community activities; managing and developing local talent and through its education and research work. — SG
The prestigious international forum will feature four other panel discussions, in addition to two keynote speeches and six workshops, all revolving around the central theme of ‘Inspiring Generations’. Held under the aegis of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak and organized by the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA), the conference seeks to promote Sheikha Fatima’s vision for sport to become a part of every Emirati woman’s life. In the past, the conference has featured icons of sport such as legendary Brazilian footballer, Marta Da Silva, British double Olympic gold medalist, Kelly Holmes, American Paralympic gold medalist and Guinness World Record holder, Muffy Davis, French Wimbledon Champion, Marion Bartoli and several members of the International Olympic Committee.
Joining the ranks of the conference’s esteemed speakers, Moharrak is expected to share her incredible personal journey and direct experience of breaking down social and sporting barriers in the hopes of inspiring women from around the globe to reach their full potential.
Moharrak grew up in Saudi Arabia and throughout her life felt a longing to break free and do something different, to set off on her own adventure. She began searching for that adventure upon finishing her undergraduate studies, when she found what would become her passion for years to come: mountain climbing. At 25 years, Moharrak set her sights on the iconic challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a feat seemingly farfetched for someone who was still learning the world of mountain climbing.
After successfully reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro in 2011, adventure became a way of life for Moharrak who, in 2013, shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the youngest Arab, and first Saudi, woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Now 30 years old, she has completed several immense climbs of some of the highest peaks across the world.
While continuing to pursue her adventures in mountain climbing, Moharrak hasn’t lost sight of the core issues that have faced her and continue to affect many other women in the region in the pursuit of their sporting aspirations. She utilizes the fame she has attained over the years to spread a message of empowerment to other women, encouraging them to get active and to confront societal expectations. Moharrak also plays a role in pursuing the cause at a higher level through her involvement in campaigns by organizations such as the Human Rights Watch, who are lobbying governments to actively boost women’s role in sports and provide greater support and tools needed to excel within that field.
Moharrak’s participation in this year’s ICSW is rooted in a desire to spread her message of empowerment, inspire others and shed light on the societal issues that face women in the Middle East. She said, “I'm happy to announce my participation at ICSW. I’m always looking to share my story with others, hoping it could give them the inspiration they need to go one step further in chasing their dreams. Platforms such as ICSW are ideal to bring together individuals who are as passionate as I am to address the most critical issues that they face, and to share their hopes and dreams for the future.”
“ICSW is a platform to address critical issues for women in sports in front of some of the most important and influential industry leaders and decision-makers. I’ve always said that to me sport is not about the medals and the prizes; it’s about raising our children to be more active for a healthier future. And so I was very happy to see that ICSW is seeking to promote this vision through the 2017 conference, and I’m proud that I get to be a part of this great initiative,” she added.
The 4th ICSW will be held from Nov. 6-7 November at ADNEC. Registrations are free for all those who wish to attend, but spaces are limited. Those who are interested in attending the conference are encouraged to pre-register at http://fbma.ae/en/icsw/2017/pre-registration/ to receive updates and find out when registrations are open.
Now in its fourth edition, ICSW is an initiative of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) — a milestone event and internationally-recognized platform to promote and support FBMA’s vision for sports to become a part of the daily life of all Emirati women.
The FBMA is a not-for-profit government entity of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Established in October 2010, the Academy is dedicated to promoting and facilitating women’s sports in the UAE. The FBMA strives to make sports an element of daily life for UAE national women of all age, background, and physical condition; to encourage Emirati women to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, and to further instill the values of sport in the public consciousness of the UAE. The FBMA serves this significant mission by hosting a number of local, regional and international sports events; facilitating community activities; managing and developing local talent and through its education and research work. — SG
