Muslim women game for rugby

By FINBARR BUNTING

NEW Zealand's traditional game has a fledgling following in a very unlikely place.
Following male-dominated Iran's relaxation of social rules in the 1990s, women began playing rugby union.
Auckland-based, Iranian-born, film-maker Faramarz Beheshti, 51, was so fascinated he made a documentary about it.
Salam Rugby will feature at the 2010 New Zealand International Film Festival, which screens until July 25 in Auckland.
"I went to Iran in 2006 to work on another film project that didn't end up happening and I saw by chance a picture of these girls playing rugby," Beheshti told Sunday News.
"I found it kind of charming as an idea so decided to work on it."
Beheshti said the code became so popular that representatives from around Iran gathered for training.
But soon after the birth of the new women's sport, legislation was introduced limiting the amount of contact men could have with women. That made it difficult for a male coach to take part in training.
The film, Salam Rugby, follows the would-be players as they challenge the law so they can compete.
"Sport is one of the few avenues for women in small towns to get out of the house," Beheshti said. "But the available rugby trainers were all men. The past four or five years have severely restricted the development of the women's game.
"The sport has potential in Iran for men, but with women there is a dire need for female coaches."
Beheshti is married to a Kiwi and has lived in New Zealand with their children since 2005, where he gained a passion for the game.
"Growing up in Italy it was all about football."
Beheshti was born in Iran and emigrated to Italy when he was four so had little experience of his birthplace before he made Salam Rugby.
"It gave me the opportunity to meet these wonderful people in this wonderful country. I had a desire to visit Iran properly but I now feel so blessed I have the chance to experience this," he said. And he loves his new homeland. "I love Auckland, I've found my spiritual city. It's beautiful."
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/news/3906876/Muslim-women-game-for-rugby
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"I Represent All Muslim Women": An interview by Charlie Wyett with Aravane Rezai

THE strawberries are being cut, the bottles of Pimms are being unloaded at the All England Club.
And some blokes are thinking how hilarious it would be to shout 'C'mon Tim' ahead of a player serving on Centre Court. Yet you really know when Wimbledon is around the corner when the debate focuses on whether Andy Murray is either British or Scottish and his apparent hatred of all things English. After all, he once made a joke. Murray is now used to political tapdancing yet this is nothing compared to Aravane Rezai's unique situation. The 18th women's seed at the championships, which begin Monday, Rezai represents France, the country where she was born and raised. Yet both her parents are Iranian and she is a proud muslim. Rezai, 23, has even represented Iran at the Women's Islamic Games - twice - and she has met the country's controversial president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Yet incredibly, this driven, uncompromising and talented tennis player has handled a potentially-difficult situation like a veteran MP. She has also overcome a lack of family money and initial racism from France's tennis authorities to become the country's sporting golden girl and equally, is now an inspiration for muslim women around the world. Rezai makes no apologies for being extremely proud of both her backgrounds. She is also enjoying a decent year, winning the third title of her year in Madrid last month, beating Venus Williams in the final. She said: "There are a few but not too many Muslim women in sport. Sania Mirza, who is Indian, also plays tennis but I am the first from a Persian background. "I am proud to represent Muslim women. I know I am a model for other girls and if I can give them power or any help to improve their life, that is good. I am here and I want to show on court I am a fighter. I fight for my personal life and I fight for my tennis career. They are two things. "I have two passports. When I play for France people said 'she is Iranian not French'. I am proud to be half-Iranian and that is why I have a necklace from Iran around my neck at all times. Yet I play tennis for France, the country where I grew up. "So many people ask me whether I prefer France or Iran . I say: 'do you ask a mother which son she prefers?' I love both countries. "I have made a lot of sacrifices in my life and I feel stronger than so many other players. I have a different character. I am very strong. I like to fight on the court. It comes from my double culture. "Unfortunately I am not a practising Muslim but when I have finished my tennis career, I will be. "I last went to Iran 18 months ago. When I go, I cover up respectfully but I do not wear Islamic clothing. Some Iranians did not agree because I met the president and I gave two rackets to the president like a gift. But the rackets were given to the country, not just the president of the country." Rezai is never far from her family. She is coached by her father, Arsalan, her hitting partner is brother Anouch and her mother, Nouchine, doubles up as her physio. She said: "It was difficult in Saint Etienne as the weather conditions in the winter - like England - are not good. There was also jealousy at some tennis clubs and it was difficult to find a court. "At 17, I was junior French champion but I was then suspended by the French Federation for two months because I played two tournaments in a row. Two other girls did the same but they did not suffer a penalty. They were 'pure' French whereas I am half-Persian. I was not happy. "We had a lot of financial problems because dad did not work as he was looking after me. Everything we won was used to finance our travel. I was like the family business. There was real pressure to win. I knew I had to win tournaments because if I did not, we did not have the money to compete. I used to sleep in a van during tournaments - until I was 18 or 19. We never got anything from the French Federation."

INSPIRATION ... Rezai
While tennis is sport which breeds a few too many one-dimensional characters, Rezai is an engaging character whose life does not revolve around the practice court. She said: "I like astro-physics. I love watching stars. "I also like motorbikes as I enjoy sports with speed. I like ski-ing and soccer. My team is Lyon." Rezai reached the semi-finals at Edgbaston and after beating reigning Eastbourne champion Caroline Wozniacki on the south coast this week, she was forced to retire from her next match as a precaution due to a wrist problem. A hard-hitting and aggressive player, her game is clearly suited to grass and is more than capable of reaching the second week of Wimbledon for the first time. Rezai, who has also beaten the likes of Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova, said: "This is a good opportunity. Winning in Madrid gave me a lot of confidence. I realised that I can beat the top players. I believed in myself and did something big. Hopefully, I can continue. I knew it would click but just didn't know when. "I have become very popular at the French Open and now, cannot go out without people talking to me. It is very different at Wimbledon, as I can walk around the village. "But if I get results at Wimbledon, I will be popular in England." And if Rezai does deliver something special over the forthcoming fortnight at Wimbledon, it will be massively-significant triumph. A victory to be celebrated by millions of women around the world.
Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/tennis/3018804/I-represent-all-Muslim-women.html
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Leader of Afghan women’s sport: Playing is political

By Sarah Odell and Lindsay Rico
Nasrin Arbabzadeh, the leader of the Afghan women’s sports delegation, has been actively working for years for the rights of Afghan women to complete in sports. In 2001, she traveled from city to city recruiting women to compete in the the Third Muslim Women Games. At the time, she told theMinneapolis Star-Tribune that she wore a burqa so as not to draw attention to her work. “My life would have been in danger if the Taliban had learned of my activities and my purpose,” she said.
During the opening ceremonies of those games, organizers staged a black out and many athletes wore black mourning clothing and carried candles as a sign of support for the 48 Afghan delegates. Their participation was a symbol of political resistance. “I’m competing here to denounce the Taliban’s uncivilized treatment of women in the name of Islam,” Salma Hosseini, tae kwan do silver medalist, announced at the time.
Last week, at the Fifth World Conference on Women & Sport in Sydney, Ababzadeh stood in a question and answer period, and sought insight into how to develop, support, and train female athletes in Afghanistan. “Does anybody know about the women in Afghanistan?” she asked. The hall was silent.
FGN spoke with Arbabzadeh about her work and the challenges for female athletes in her native country.
FGN: In Afghanistan, what kinds of sports do women compete in?
NA: They play football (Soccer), badminton, basketball, taekwondo, and volleyball. But it’s very hard for them. At first, their families are not happy and they make it difficult for the girls to play. But when these girls bring home medals and awards, then their parents are happy for them.
FGN: What are some of the challenges these girls and women experience?



NA: The difficulties don’t end with the family. Most of our athletes don’t have the right clothes, shoes, or food. And athletes who have become successful are often threatened. Sixty percent of people are happy with them, forty percent are not. People think they are bad girls because they have chosen to participate in athletics.
FGN:What is your role in women’s sports in Afganistan. Who has been important to your work?
NA: I am the first woman to start sports for girls in Afghanistan. I am so happy with Faezah Hashemi, the Iranian president of the Islamic Federation of Women Sport. She has helped lots of young women within the federation, regardless of what country they come from.
FGN: How did you first get girls involved in athletics?

NA: In 2001 I collected young girls who wanted to play sports brought them to the Muslim women games in Iran. The girls competed in volleyball, tae kwan doe, shooting, tennis, running, chess, and badminton. I paid for everything so my teams could go to this competition. The girls and their families were so happy, because in Afghanistan, there are no teams that allow women. But leaders in Afghanistan did not like what I was doing and I received threats, so [after the games] I went back to Iran.
FGN: Who was behind the threats? Why were you threatened?
NA: The Olympic manager. He did not have a lot of experience. He saw that I had experience and knowledge. I saw many things I wanted to change. I saw the disabled athletes had terrible equipment. I wanted to help them. I asked him why they did not have better equipment and he did not like that. He told my husband that if I had any more things to say about the Olympic management or problems, he would kill me.
Arbabzadeh now lives abroad, in Australia, and serves on the Women with Special Needs Committee for the Islamic Federation of Women Sport.
Source: http://fairgamenews.com/2010/05/leader-of-afghan-womens-sport-playing-is-political-and-potentially-life-threatening/
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Ms Nawal EL MOUTAWAKEL

Nawal el-Moutawakel, the first Arab Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work for women in sport and in the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Moutawakel, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, won the inaugural women's 400m hurdles event for Morocco at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Education
Bachelors of Science in Physical Education, Iowa State University (United States of America)
Career
Inspector at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (1989-1997); Secretary of State to the Minister of Social Affairs, responsible for Youth and Sport (1997-1998); Ministry of Youth and Sports (2007-2009)
Sports practised
Athletics
Sports career
Moroccan Champion in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m hurdles (1977-1978), Arab Champion in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m hurdles; African Champion in 400 m hurdles (1983), USA Champion in 400 m hurdles (1984); Olympic Champion in 400 m hurdles at the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles (1984); gold medallist in 400 m hurdles at the Mediterranean Games in Casablanca (Morocco, 1983) and in Damascus (Syria, 1987); bronze medallist in 400 m hurdles at the World University Games in Kobe (Japan, 1985) then gold medallsit in Zagreb (then Yugoslavia, 1987)

Sports administration
Member then Vice-President of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission (1989-); National sprint and hurdles trainer (1990); Member of the NOC, Elite Commission (1992); Deputy National Technical Director of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (1993) then Vice-President (1997); Member of the African Amateur Athletics Confederation (1995-); Member of the IAAF Executive Bureau (1995); Member of the International Committee of the French-speaking Games (1997-2005); Member of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (1998-); Member of the Board of the Arab Sports Confederation (1998-); Vice-President of the Moroccan Association for the Football World Cup 2006 (2000); Founder Member (2000) then Vice-Chair of the Laureus World Sports Academy (2004-); Member of the Council of the International Athletics Foundation (2001-); Founder Member and President of the Moroccan Sport and Development Association (2002-); Member of the FIFA Women’s Football Commission (2004) and of the Women’s Competitions’ Commission (FIFA) (2007); Chair of the NOC Women and Sport Commission (2005-2007); Member of the Jury and Technical Delegate at various national, continental and international competitions
Awards and distinctions
National Merit (Exceptional Order) awarded by King Hassan II of Morocco (1983); Knight of the Lion National Order awarded by President of Senegal Abdou Diouf (1998); Unicef Goodwill Ambassador (1999); Mérite National de l’Ordre de Commandeur awarded by King Mohammed VI of Morocco (2004); Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Tunisia (2005); “Lifetime Achievement” award from the Laureus association (2010)
IOC History
Member of the Executive board (2008-); Chairperson of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 (2004-2005); Chairperson of the Evaluation Commission of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 (2008-2009); Chairperson of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 (2010-); member of the following Commissions: Women and Sport (1995-2010), Doping (working group, 1998), “IOC 2000” (1999), Marketing (2000-2010), Nominations (2000-), IOC 2000 Reform Follow-up (2002), Coordination for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (2005-), International Relations (2008-)


Sources: http://business.maktoob.com/20090000445462/Sprint_king_Bolt_wins_second_Laureus_award/Article.htm
http://www.olympic.org/en/content/The-IOC/Members/Ms-Nawal-EL-MOUTAWAKEL-/
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