From November 27 – 30, 2024, the Particular Olympics Center East/North Africa Athlete Management Congress (RALC) made historical past in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as the primary leadership-focused Particular Olympics occasion hosted within the Kingdom. Supported by Financial institution of America, Particular Olympics Saudi Arabia, and King Abdulaziz College, the Congress highlighted the area’s dedication to advancing inclusion and empowering athletes as leaders.
A Transformative Opening Ceremony
The Congress opened with a robust ceremony. Hamoud Al Shammery, SO Saudi Arabia athlete chief, set the tone: “This Congress is a testomony to how athletes can lead and encourage international change.” SO Saudi Arabia Nationwide Director Abdel Rahman Al Qurishi emphasised, “Internet hosting RALC is a milestone for Saudi Arabia, demonstrating our dedication to fostering inclusion throughout all communities.”
Eng. Ayman Abdel Wahab, SOMENA President, celebrated the launch of the 2024 – 2027 RALC, which incorporates 50% feminine illustration and athletes from 9 packages, saying, “The voices of athlete leaders are shaping the way forward for inclusion within the MENA area.”
Strategic Dialogue with Eng. Ayman Abdel Wahab
The primary day of the Congress featured an attractive and interactive dialogue led by Eng. Ayman Abdel Wahab with RALC members, making a platform for significant dialogue and collaboration. This pivotal session allowed members to share concepts, specific their views, and discover key themes important to advancing the mission of Particular Olympics. Discussions centered on methods for reaching long-term sustainability, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, and addressing gaps in understanding to advertise higher consciousness and inclusion. Moreover, plans for future regional video games and occasions had been mentioned, specializing in increasing participation, enhancing visibility, and fostering inclusion for people with mental disabilities. This session marked a second of connection and reflection, emphasizing shared function and strategic route, whereas laying the groundwork for impactful future initiatives.
Empowering Girls in Sports activities and Management
As a part of the Regional Athlete Management Council (RALC) 2024 in Jeddah, the primary panel, moderated by Mr. Amr Khashoggi, Chairman of Qaderoon, introduced collectively influential voices to debate advancing girls’s roles in sports activities and management. Panelists included Eng. Ayman Abdel Wahab, President of SOMENA; Ms. Adwa Al Arifi, Assistant Minister for Sports activities Affairs; Dr. Maha Al-Juffali, President of SO Saudi Arabia; and Ms. Lina Al Maeena, Chairperson of Jeddah United.
This transformative session centered on:
- Breaking Boundaries: Highlighting the necessity for equality in sports activities and management.
- Milestones in Empowerment: Eng. Ayman celebrated achievements similar to 50% feminine illustration within the Regional Athlete Management Council and the rising involvement of girls in regional video games.
- Inspiring Progress: Ms. Adwa mirrored on Saudi Arabia’s journey, from sending its first feminine delegation to the 2019 Particular Olympics World Video games to reaching over 50% feminine participation on the 2023 Berlin Video games.
- Altering Perceptions: Dr. Maha shared how feminine athletes’ successes have reshaped household and group attitudes.
- Encouraging Participation: Ms. Lina emphasised how initiatives like Jeddah United have pushed girls’s participation in sports activities from 13% to 50%.
This panel underscored the area’s dedication to fostering inclusion, advancing gender equality, and empowering girls to steer and thrive.
The second panel of the RALC 2024, moderated by Hiba Ghurab, athlete chief from SO Saudi Arabia, and Ms. Lujain Omran, media entrepreneur, highlighted private journeys of resilience and empowerment. Panelists included Saria Nassif, Captain of the Saudi Girls’s Volleyball Group; Majd Al Hindawi, President of RALC; and Dr. Doaa Zahran, household and social marketing consultant.
This session explored:
- Household Help: Saria shared how her household’s encouragement helped her overcome societal challenges, inspiring different girls to tackle management and sports activities roles.
- Equality as a Proper: Majd made a robust assertion: “There is no such thing as a distinction between women and men. Equality just isn’t non-compulsory, it’s a necessary proper”. Girls deserve equal alternatives in each area, and it’s essential to interrupt boundaries to make sure their full participation and success. Majd emphasised the significance of making inclusive environments that empower girls to take management roles, take part in sports activities, and contribute equally to all sectors. She highlighted that gender ought to by no means be a barrier to alternatives and referred to as for collective motion to problem societal norms, take away obstacles, and supply equal entry to alternatives, help, and platforms for ladies. Her phrases resonated strongly, emphasizing the significance of equality, inclusion, and alternative for all.
- The Function of Media: Dr. Doaa mentioned how media can promote gender equality by reshaping public perceptions, that includes optimistic function fashions, and advocating for inclusive insurance policies.
The session concluded with Hiba’s inspiring phrases: “With the appropriate alternatives and help, girls can obtain the extraordinary.” The dialogue bolstered the significance of inclusion, equality, and constructing help networks to empower girls as leaders and change-makers.
These panels showcased the area’s unwavering dedication to empowering girls in sports activities and management, reflecting the progress and imaginative and prescient of inclusion within the MENA area.
Dynamic Coaching Periods for Future Leaders
The Congress featured a sequence of interactive coaching classes designed to empower athletes with important management expertise. Subjects included staff constructing and problem-solving, the place members engaged in group challenges and brainstorming workouts to boost collaboration and belief. The communications and storytelling session emphasised the ability of non-public narratives, educating athletes the best way to craft impactful tales to encourage others and advocate for inclusion. A important session on know-how and on-line security outfitted members with instruments to acknowledge on-line bullying, keep away from scams, and shield their digital identities. The management expertise coaching centered on goal-setting, time administration, inventive considering, and energetic listening, guaranteeing athletes had been ready to steer with confidence and function. These dynamic and interesting classes supplied members with sensible expertise to amplify their voices and drive change of their roles as athlete leaders.
Well being Messenger Coaching: Advocating for Effectively-Being
On the ultimate day of the Congress, RALC members participated in refresher Well being Messenger coaching to strengthen their roles as well being advocates.
The primary session centered on psychological well being, educating members stress administration, emotional expression, and coping methods to advertise resilience and consciousness. The second session highlighted diet and balanced diets, offering sensible suggestions for making knowledgeable meals decisions and adopting wholesome habits.
These classes empowered athlete leaders to advocate for psychological and bodily well-being inside their communities, reinforcing their important function in selling inclusion and wholesome existence.
The Congress coincided with the Particular Olympics Saudi Arabia Nationwide Video games, the place 130 athletes competed in basketball, bocce, and desk tennis. The RALC Members obtained the prospect to attend each the Nationwide Video games & the Wholesome Athlete screenings furthering the mission of inclusion by way of well being advocacy.
Paving the Manner Ahead
One of the vital thrilling new initiatives launched throughout the Congress was the Expertise Present, proposed by Huda Karam, RALC member from Particular Olympics UAE. This progressive thought goals to offer a platform for people with mental and developmental disabilities (IDD) to showcase their creativity, variety, and creative abilities past the sports activities area.
The RALC 2024 underscored the transformative energy of athlete-driven management and inclusion. With inspiring discussions, impactful coaching, and a renewed concentrate on equality, the Congress set a brand new normal for empowerment within the MENA area. Eng. Ayman Abdel Wahab concluded, “Athletes should not simply members—they’re leaders of change, shaping a future the place inclusion is aware of no boundaries.”
