NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has launched 10 Days of Women in Sports, an initiative, part of the University’s larger 10th anniversary celebrations, which is aimed at encouraging women in the UAE community to participate in sports activities and adopt a healthy lifestyle. As part of this initiative, NYUAD hosted its inaugural Sports Majlis earlier today, in partnership with the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the United States Mission. The Majlis was attended by prominent US sports historian Victoria Jackson and Executive Director of the Center for Sport Leadership Carrie Lecrom.
NYUAD Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator Jennifer Scully said, “Bringing to focus women in sport through this ten day initiative is not only a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our female athletes, coaches and the greater community, but to come together to show support for all females and encourage one another to keep inspiring women no matter their age and ability to find the many physical, mental and emotional benefits of sport participation. Thank you to the support of the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the United States Mission as well as our special guests speakers who join NYUAD Athletics during these exciting events.”
Sports Historian and Clinical Assistant Professor of History in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University Victoria Jackson and Executive Director of the Center for Sport Leadership Carrie Lecrom shared experiences and discussed challenges and opportunities of women in sports.
Jackson said, “I am thrilled to return to NYU Abu Dhabi to participate in 10 Days of Women in Sport. This follows an exceptional year for women in sport and is exciting to see where we will go next, in 2020, an Olympic year. After experiencing and admiring the international make-up of NYUAD’s student body last spring, I am eager to return, play and grow together.”
LeCrom commented, “The work that NYUAD is doing to promote women in sports, as well as women’s empowerment and development through sports, is something I admire and am thrilled to be a part of. Having seen the growth and change in women and girls through sport participation in many different contexts, I can attest to what a unique tool it is for development. I have no doubt that I will learn as much from the female athletes at NYUAD as they will learn from me, and I’m looking forward to 10 days of inspiring learning.”
Between February 17-25, NYUAD will take part in Abu Dhabi Inter-University Sports League’s (ADISL) competitions which include badminton, soccer, basketball, and volleyball. All ADISL events will be open to female spectators only.
On Wednesday February 19, NYUAD and Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA), will be hosting Katching Kosgei at NYUAD’s outdoor track at 7pm. The University’s first women only marathon relay race series is organized in partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and will be open to male and female spectators.
On Thursday, February 20, HERsports Tournament, the first female-only soccer, basketball, and volleyball tournament for the community will take place at NYUAD at 6pm. The SoccHER tournament will be held at NYUAD’s Falcon Field from 6-7.30pm; and the HERvolley and HERhoops tournament will take place at NYUAD’s Performance Gym from 8-9.30pm. HERsports is open to male and female spectators.
On Saturday February 22, female swimmers from various UAE universities will compete at NYUAD’s campus for the ADISL swimming competition. Tuesday February 25, will see NYUAD’s women’s basketball team will play a semi-final competition of the ADISL at Zayed University from 7-8pm.
The initiative ends on Wednesday February 26, where the NYUAD Athletics team will hold concluding conversations of the ten days with a HERsports member-only casual Majlis.
Female members of the public are invited to participate in activities. For more information, please contact nyuad.athletics@nyu.edu.
