Softball can advance women’s rights in Middle East, says Prince Feisal
By Pirate Irwin
PARIS (AFP) — Should softball regain its place as an Olympic sport it could bring an improvement in women’s rights in the Middle East, His Royal Highness Prince Feisal of Jordan told AFP on Sunday.
The 45-year-old – younger brother of King Abdullah II – said that the sport deserved to be restored for the 2016 Games after losing its spot post the 2008 edition.
The sport faces a potentially crucial week as it makes a presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board in Lausanne, Switzerland, to try and regain their status with two out of a list of candidates of rugby union, golf, baseball, rollersports and squash all competing for inclusion.
However, the Prince, a high-profile supporter of the sport, believes that softball more than deserves its place at the Games.
“I came across a woman recently from the United Arab Emirates, in her late 40s, who told me that by playing softball it was the first time she had been on a playing pitch with men,” the Prince said.
“It is a sport that is extremely inclusive where anyone of any age can play and there is no dress code.
“It is neither elitist and has a good grass roots support. With regard to cultural sensitivities it is an ideal game. The sport seems to have outstanding appeal.”
Prince Feisal became a fan of the sport while he was in the United States.
“Yes, I did play it in the United States when I studied there for 12 years,” said the father of four.
“It is a very social game, really fast, not a contact sport and great fun.”
The Prince insisted that by bringing softball back to the Games that it could help women’s rights advance in his region.
“Yes, it could advance those (women’s rights),” he said.
“In a more general sense it can only conjure up more interest in the Middle East if it is reintroduced into the Olympics because of course everyone sees appearing at the Olympics as being the pinnacle of their sporting career.
“But it is a sport that genuinely brings adults and children together and for the Middle East that is a case of breaking down barriers, which is rare for a sport but this one achieves that.”
The final decision on which sports are accepted into the Olympics is likely to come in Berlin ahead of August’s athletics world championships.
