Beacons of Hope: MENA Women at the Paris Olympics

“Representation matters, especially during such trying times.” 

As the Paris Olympics 2024 rolls out with so much excitement and anticipation for athletic performance in over 30 sports, amongst both men and women, we are reminded of the power of sports to equalize the playing field, give a platform to the marginalized, and inspire the younger generations with the tournament’s values. As noted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympism is a "philosophy of life" that blends "sport with culture and education" and that "creates a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example, and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."  

This definition comes against a backdrop of so much turmoil, insecurity, and human suffering across the world. If we zoom into the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), as well as Afghanistan, for example, this commemorative blend of culture, education, and sport is not necessarily guaranteed for all, especially for young girls and women and the forcibly displaced across the region, namely those in active conflict areas such as the Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Syria, Libya, and Yemen.  

This Paris tournament features a refugee team, as well as varying numbers of young women amongst the athletes of the MENA Olympic Committees—as high as 53 from Egypt and as low as one from Libya, Syria, and Sudan and none from Iraq. Out of the 650 athletes from MENA, including Turkey, Israel, Iran, as well as Afghanistan, 222 are female (approximately 34%). While these numbers are still quite modest, signaling that there is still much work to do to close the gender gap in sports across the region, it is worth noting that those young women who made it to Paris represent shining role models for other younger women and important reminders of why it is crucial to invest in sport development for all. 

As Sheikha Hussa Al Khalifa, head of the gender equity and equal opportunities committee at the Bahrain Olympic Committee, noted to me, her country boasts more female than male athletes at the Olympics this year, and many staff members accompanying the athletes are also women. Al Khalifa believes “every stride taken by a woman at the Olympics, especially women from our region, is felt by many female athletes from around the world.” She adds, “it is important we keep pushing and encouraging female athletes and administrators within the Olympic space.” 

Raising Hope 

Afghanistan represents the most extreme case, with gender apartheid in full effect. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, girls and women have been denied their basic rights to education and work, as well as being systemically oppressed by state institutions because of gender. Despite this bitter reality, two female Afghan cyclists who fled their country and settled in Europe in 2021 are representing Afghanistan in the tournament under a flag that the Taliban does not recognize. The two Hashimi sisters, Fariba and Yulduz, said they “represent the oppressed women of Afghanistan who are not even allowed to go to school.”  Fariba said she hopes to win and raise “hope” for Afghan girls and empower them so that one day “they could also fulfil their dreams." Thanks to the Afghanistan Olympic Committee in exile that worked hand-in-hand with the IOC to get their athletes in, the Hashimi sisters have a platform to compete and be seen on the global stage as empowered young Afghan women. 

In MENA, the participation of young women athletes in Paris from the occupied Palestinian Territories and war-torn Sudan, Yemen, and Syria is a bittersweet reminder of how, even in the midst of the harshest conditions, the Olympic philosophy lives on. For example, this year, amidst the ravaging war in Gaza, six Palestinian Olympians made it to Paris, thanks to an IOC quota that gives opportunities to less developed countries with meager resources for sport development to send athletes even if they do not fully meet the Olympian criteria. In the case of the Palestinians, tragically, much of the sports infrastructure in Gaza was decimated and, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee, 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed or died of other complications due to the dire humanitarian conditions, including a female Karate champion who was due to compete in Paris, Nagham Abu Samra. 

Representing Sudan, which is witnessing a war that has displaced millions and seen alarmingly widespread sexual violence, Rana Saadeldin, one of the youngest athletes in the tournament, is a force of her own in her determination to excel. The juxtaposition of her shining light at the Olympics in the midst of the darkness that the majority of Sudanese women are living today is jarring—further reinforcing why her voice on the empowerment of Sudanese women is crucial. She noted, “[representing Sudan] means a lot to me…because in Sudan, there are not a lot of girls that swim.” Representation matters, especially during such trying times. 

Breaking Barriers, Promoting Gender Equality 

The Paris Olympics have been boasting a gender equal tournament with new inclusive features for Olympian mothers and giving opportunities for mothers-to-be such as Nada Hafez, the Egyptian Olympic fencer who revealed her seventh months pregnancy on social media after defeating the United States competitor. Nada’s honesty about her journey as an athlete and a mother-to-be stands to inspire many young women, especially across MENA. A major barrier to female labor force participation there is the lack of the necessary infrastructure and affordable services to support working mothers. “Having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous,” Nada wrote on social media.  

While she did not win a medal, Nada finished 16, the highest of her Olympic career. Commenting on Nada and other female athletes from Egypt, Parliamentarian Sahar Al Bazar, who often represents her country in youth fora, noted that Egyptian women’s participation in such competitions is “a significant step towards promoting gender equality,” adding that “supporting and encouraging women's participation in sports reflects our commitment in the region to building an equitable society that provides opportunities for all without discrimination." 

This support is essential in a region that continues to be challenged by wide gender gaps, especially in the workforce and political participation. There has been considerable progress, as the numbers showcase this year in Paris, however there is certainly more that countries in the region can do.  

“We sports officials across the world and especially in the MENA region have a responsibility to ensure that both the public and private sectors are investing in sports development for all, equally,” stressed Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, former FIFA vice president and president of the Jordan Football Association. He added that while in Jordan, “we have equal faith and pride in both our male and female athletes, it is incumbent upon all sectors in society to encourage those who are struggling in women’s sports on one hand and to also reward those who are taking steps for equality” as a means to further promote gender equality. 

The views represented in this piece are those of the author and do not express the official position of the Wilson Center.