Saudi Arabian princess is Arab sport personality of the year
Nisaa FM: - Saudi Arabia’s Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan, known for her efforts to empower women across the Kingdom, has been honored with the Arab Sports Personality Award at the 9th edition of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards. Her win is in recognition of her entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic efforts.
“This time the focus was on women and their contribution in sports within our society. I am extremely pleased that a person like Princess Reema has bagged the Arab Sports Personality Award as this will further encourage women in our region to push towards excellence,” Al Marri, General Secretary of the Award and Mustapha Larfaoui, Chairman of the Jury Committee, said when award was announced.
Earlier this year, in October, Princess Reema achieved another first for Saudi women when she became the first woman to lead the Saudi Federation for Community Sports that manages sports-related activities for both men and women in the Kingdom. Before that, she scored another first in 2016 by being appointed by the Saudi cabinet to head of a sports department for women.The princess has been a long-time supporter of providing women with more opportunities to grow and achieve, even helping secure licenses for female-only gyms.
Princess Reema is the daughter of Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005.
Strong opinions on women - and sports
The princess has strong opinions on women and sports, believing that “It’s time to include women in sports for a healthier society and a productive economy. We — especially women — must incorporate physical fitness in our lives.”
But she also thinks that women in sport is a good business, “Women’s participation in sports has the potential to create 250,000 jobs”
Princess Reema has gained attention on the international stage as a leader in business innovation, specifically as a champion for women in the workplace. She has stated that Saudi Arabia "cannot have half of [the] population not working.”
The Princess is a founding member of the Zahra Breast Cancer Awareness Association, and “her 10KSA initiative was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2015 when 8,264 women in pink scarves formed the 'world’s largest humanitarian ribbon’ to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention.”
In May 2012, in conjunction with the Zahra Breast Cancer Association, she led a group of Saudi women to the Base Camp of Mount Everest, in a bid to raise breast cancer awareness. The 11 climbers began their trek to Base Camp located 5,364 meters above sea level on 7 May, completing their trek in 12 days.
Source: www.abouther.com