Women in Saudi Arabia were able to attend a sporting event for the first time in the country’s history this past Friday.
It was a historical moment for Saudi Arabia as the doors opened to both men and women at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, with women in the stands visibly happy to be there.
Women were allowed to attend a football match in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever when Al-Ahli played Al-Batin yesterday 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/2jzuy3x2Zi
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 13, 2018
In October, the General Sports Authority (GSA) decided that in early 2018 all three of their stadiums, which were up until now male-only facilities, would be made ready for “families.”
The change included an allocation of special seating, or a family section, where women can now go and watch the game from.
مع أخويا وزوجتي في قسم العوائل بملعب الجوهرة #الأهلي_الباطن 💚🇸🇦
— هشام فقيه (@HishamFageeh) January 12, 2018
Me, my brother, & my wife attending a league match in the family section (1st time in Saudi history!) pic.twitter.com/5IY9U61n9s
Photos | Families will be attending a match in the stadium for the first time ever. They are already arriving now to support Al-Ahli!
— AlAhli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) January 12, 2018
We are ONE FAMILY 💚#AHLIFC #الأهلي_الباطن pic.twitter.com/Iz5JL9DHHw
Female sports fans were able to attend a soccer game, where the teams Al-Ahli and Al-Batin played against each other. It was the first of three sporting events planned for this month that welcome women.
According to a government announcement, this is one of the many "landmark decisions" the kingdom is making to empower women. In September, Saudi Arabia made the announcement that women would be able to drive by June 2018.
As we speak;Saudi women fans are entering soccer stadiums! This is more than women’s rights: today’s match between Al-Ahli and Al-Batin, and the ones to follow,are opportunities for families to come together and enjoy KSA’s national sport- soccer!I’m rooting for the ladies-enjoy!
— Fatimah S Baeshen (@FatimahSBaeshen) January 12, 2018
Organizing the first ever soccer match to allow Saudi women has been surreal!! 💚⚽️ pic.twitter.com/WELR9dvONH
— sarah algashgari (@SarahAlgash) January 12, 2018
