Saudi Arabia To Allow Women Spectators In Sports Stadiums

Women in Saudi Arabia has a good reason to rejoice these days as the government has eased restrictions on their entry in sports stadiums as spectators to games.

A statement released by the General Sport Authority reveals starting early next year women will be allowed into three arenas in major cities – King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah, King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh and Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.

These three stadiums have highest seating capacity in the country and are home to six teams in the Saudi Professional League.

Presently it is not very clear what kind of seating arrangement will be alloted to women and families in the stadiums as both the sexes in Saudi Arabia are separated in public places where they both are allowed.

Last month the Saudi government eased restrictions on women driving and the new decree is learned to be implemented by June 2018.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, Prince Khaled bin Salman, said this is a historic big day in the kingdom.

Women2Drive campaigner celebrated the victory posting photos and comments on social media.

One of the women behind the campaign, Manal al-Sharif, was jailed in 2011 following her video post on YouTube showing her driving a car wearing a black headscarf and sunglasses.

Currently Sharif lives in Australia. She said, “Saudi Arabia will never be the same again. The rain begins with a single drop.”