Abu Dhabi // A boxing administrator who was one of the forces behind women's boxing making its Olympic debut at the London Games will be a key speaker at an international conference on women's sports in Abu Dhabi.
Aine Power, the legal manager of the International Boxing Association, will share her views at the conference, organised by the Fatima bint Mubarak Women Sports Academy in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and to be held at the Emirates Palace hotel on April 10 and 11.
"This conference will bring new enthusiasm and lay the foundation for the Emirati women to take an active part and encourage them to pursue full-time careers in sports," said Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, the general secretary of the ADSC. "There will be several renowned speakers, some of whom hold important positions with international sports organisations. They will share their experience and success of women's sports with the audience."
The Conference, under the banner of "Sports: Health and Happiness", will hear speakers addressing key issues in the development of women's sport in the UAE.
Other speakers include Stefanie Schulte, who helped organise the Women's Football World Cup in Germany last year; Rosella Sensi, the former president of AS Roma; Efthalia Mitsi, a football referee; and Sheikha Naeema Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, the president of the GCC Women's Sports Organising Committee.
"Key speakers will deliver talks on how to cultivate the will to indulge in sports in individuals, maintaining women's physical and psychological health, and the role of women's associations and media in fostering an appropriate environment for female athletes to thrive in," said Dr Mouza Al Shehhi, the chief executive officer of the Sheikha Fatima bin Mubarak Sports Academy, which was established last year and a state-of-the-art facility is nearing completion. "All women's sports in Abu Dhabi will come under its umbrella.
"Initially it will be in Abu Dhabi and we hope to expand it to other parts of the country.
"We will start at the grass roots, scout talent from the schools and then provide sports scholarships."
