Linda Al-Ariqi, a 30-year-old woman, had many athletic dreams and talents. She aspired to train in swimming, shooting, and other sports, with the hope of joining Yemen's women's teams in these games. However, she deeply regrets that she was unable to realize these ambitions.
She believes that the patriarchal view—the male-dominated mentality— in Yemeni society holds a negative perception towards women, considering them solely as caretakers of the home and children, while anything beyond that is considered frivolous. Additionally, as she mentioned to "Khuyut," Yemeni men generally show little interest in following Olympic competitions, let alone supporting the idea of their wives or daughters being interested in them.
With only one female athlete, Yasameen Al-Raimi in shooting, the Yemeni delegation concluded its latest participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Al-Raimi ranked the 40th position out of 44 participants, marking the lowest female representation among all participating delegations. In addition to her, there were four other male athletes in the Yemeni team.
The absence or minimal presence of Yemeni female athletes in international competitions and the Olympic Games, especially compared to their Arab counterparts, raises questions about the reasons behind Yemeni women's reluctance to engage in such sports, particularly combat and Olympic events. The traditions and customs of Yemeni society emerge as one of the primary barriers to women's participation and interest in these games and sports.
“According to many women, the influence of patriarchal attitudes on women's participation in sports is evident. There has long been a clear bias in this area, along with a condescending and derogatory attitude toward women who are interested in sports. Although this bias persists to some extent, there has been gradual improvement as societal awareness has increased and acceptance of women’s participation in various sports, such as chess, has grown. However, it remains crucial to ensure that opportunities for engaging in sports are equal for both genders.”
This situation persists despite a relative shift in awareness over recent years, which has begun gradually to challenge the prevailing male-dominated stereotype and perception of such sports interests. However, this awareness remains very limited, with little interest from girls and women in practicing combat and Olympic sports or even in following various sports competitions. Additionally, there is a lack of sufficient local interest from public and private entities that could potentially motivate and encourage Yemeni women to engage in sports.
Female Athletes Excluded Due to Discrimination
In this context, Seham Amer, a captain in combat sports, tells "Khuyut" that women in sports suffer from severe exclusion and marginalization. She attributes this to the narrow-minded patriarchal view of their capabilities, particularly from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Women's Union.
Seham speaks about the minimal participation of Yemeni women in the Paris Olympics, with only one athlete representing the country, despite the possibility of including more. She adds, "I was also supposed to participate in this edition of the Olympics. The head of the Olympic delegation is aware of my abilities, and I have previously won several medals, but I do not know the reason for my exclusion."
According to Seham, she is not the only one; many professional female athletes have also been excluded and faced the same issue. She described this exclusion as "discrimination," noting that it is strongly present. Most of the opportunities for international participation are given to male athletes, with the excuse of the lack of a female cadre.
She recalls with sadness what happened to her at the 2019 Jordan Championship. While she was preparing to enter the combat arena and raise Yemen's name high, she was excluded just minutes before the start of her participation by the head of the Yemeni Federation, who bluntly stated: "My team is male, and there is no place for girls in it." These words were like a shock to her, but she did not give up. She entered the combat arena and won silver and bronze medals; however, she did so not under the name of Yemen, which had excluded her, but as a special participant under another team, Al-Aqsa Team.
On the other hand, she mentions that there is a severe lack of coordination or participation from the Olympic Committee, the ministry, and sports federations. "We, the female athletes, do not know whom to turn to. We are being excluded from the international participations, and when we ask questions, the blame is thrown between the federation and the ministry. Despite the International Olympic Federation’s requirement for equal participation of males and females, and the presence of qualified female athletes who have previously won several medals, we are left on the sidelines today."
Likewise, she believes that the Olympic Committee could develop a plan, given that the Olympics are held every four years; thus, the period is sufficient to form a qualified team of young female athletes, continuously train them, and from different governorates. Consequently, this plan would ensure the team is well-prepared to compete in international events with high skill levels.
She continues, "In international competitions, athletes are selected and trained in a two-week camp, which is not sufficient to reach a high level and represent Yemen effectively. The recent performance of Yemen at the Paris Olympics and the loss against other delegations is a clear evidence of this issue."
Seham Amer has won four medals: three silver and one bronze, in several combat sports at the Belarus Championship in 2017. In the International Clubs Championship held in Jordan, she won two gold medals in 2019, and recently, in 2023, she won gold medals in her participation in the International Clubs Championship held in Jordan for the Wako Championship.
Gender Equality Opportunities in Sports
While Suhair Abduljabbar still vividly recalls her childhood fascination with horseback riding—a passion met with strong disapproval from her mother who refused even to discuss the matter—Ahlam Al-Maqaleh, a coach and writer, shows no interest in the Olympic Games. Her focus is instead limited to women's sports activities. Despite possessing the capability to participate in certain Olympic sports, such as swimming or running (referred to as athletics), Ahlam recognizes that engaging in these activities requires not only skill but also societal support, encouragement, and opportunity. As a result, her aspirations shifted away from such interests, steering her instead towards enhancing her intellectual skills.
Suhair adds, speaking to "Khuyut," "In my childhood, I followed the Olympic games with great interest and dreamed of becoming a sprinter because of my speed and running abilities compared to my peers," However, her interest later shifted towards equestrianism, passion that was met with her mother’s rejection and refusal to even discuss the matter, amidst a society that views this matter negatively, despite the presence of female equestrians at that time.
The influence of patriarchal attitudes on women's participation in sports is evident, according to many women. There has long been a clear bias in this field, along with a condescending and derogatory attitude toward women who are interested in sports—a bias that persists to some extent even today.
However, things are gradually improving with the increasing societal awareness and acceptance of women's participation in various sports, such as chess. Al-Maqaleh believes in her interview with "Khuyut" that there should be equal opportunities between genders in practicing sports, and that women should be supported and encouraged to participate more in sports activities.
From his side, Master Khaled Al-Ghailani, Director of the International Academy for Combat Sports in Sana'a, confirms that girls suffer from a lack of encouragement or interest from sports federations and the women's sector. Moreover, the unfair customs and traditions against women, and the spotlight on them recently, are all reasons for women's reluctance and their limited presence in Olympic and international competitions.
He adds in a statement to "Khuyut," "The International Academy has seen a good reception in recent years due to our interest and focus on training and qualifying female athletes through a suitable environment and specialized female trainers in various sports," noting that the selection of female athletes is based on their past performance in tournaments and medal achievements. He emphasizes that the selection is made through the federations, the Olympic committee, and the women's sector in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Negative Action and Political Situation
Yemeni female athletes and sportswomen confirm that their goal in pursuing international competitions, in which they strive to participate as athletes, is to elevate Yemen’s name on the Arab and international stages and to represent the country honorably in the Olympics. They express deep sadness over the weak participation that ends in loss and failure, while the country possesses skilled talents, but they are excluded due to the narrow-minded patriarchal views and mentality, as noted by Captain Seham, who works at the International Academy for Combat Sports in Sana'a; this occurs despite the fact that women’s chances of success are often higher.
“Some view the restrictions placed on female athletes, such as the requirement to wear specific attire at the Olympic Games, as a challenge. For instance, when certain sports require uniforms that do not align with traditional customs, adding to the list of obstacles faced by Yemeni women in sports. Additionally, the lack of encouragement from families and responsible authorities further restricts and discourages their participation in sports.”
Nevertheless, at the same time, Seham believes that societal attitudes have become more aware due to female athletes' commitment to societal customs and traditions. Furthermore, the community has come to recognize the importance of a girl being able to defend herself, maintain her health, and gain the confidence that comes from participating in sports.
Yemen participated in the Paris Olympics with four athletes, including one female competitor, Yasameen Al-Raimi , who competed in the 10-meter air pistol shooting event. According to the Olympic attaché for the Yemeni delegation in Paris, Abdul-Salam Al-Soudi, she improved her performance from 551 to 559, a difference of eight points.
Al-Soudi explains to "Khuyut" that Yasameen’s participation was part of the efforts to enhance the role of women in Yemeni sports on the global stage. He adds that customs, traditions, and the negative perception of women’s sports in some regions still pose significant barriers to women’s international participation.
Meanwhile, he attributes the limited participation of Yemeni female athletes in international competitions to the political and economic situation, ongoing conflicts, and the lack of financial resources allocated to supporting the sports and women's sectors, especially in the northern governorates of Yemen.
Reluctance to Participate in Sports
Al-Soudi states that there are restrictions imposed on female athletes regarding their attire, adding, "Certain sports require specific uniforms that do not align with traditional customs, in addition to the lack of encouragement from families or responsible entities, which results in their restriction and reluctance to participate in sports."
Despite the severe deterioration in women's sports infrastructure, the almost non-existent financial support, and the deliberate exclusion by relevant authorities—as noted by athletes—there are women who have achieved international championships outside Yemen. Among them are: Nora Al-Jarawi, a taekwondo player; Fatima Bawazeer, a judo player at the Arab and international levels; Naela Nasr, the Arab champion in table tennis; Seham Amer, a combat sports athlete; and Yasameen Al-Raimi , a shooter, along with many others.
It is worth mentioning that the Olympic Games is an international sporting event held every four years, in which multiple countries from around the world compete in a wide range of sports.
The origins of the Olympic Games date back to ancient Greece. They were revived in the modern era in 1896. The International Olympic Committee selects the host cities, and the Games are held every four years in different countries around the world.
