Volleyball Foundation
Global sports leaders gather in Doha to discuss pathways for continued and enhanced inclusion in sports
The FIVB, Qatar Foundation, FIVB Volleyball Foundation, and Qatar Volleyball Association hosted an inspiring ‘Women in Sports: Creating Pathways’ seminar at Education City Stadium in Doha yesterday. This landmark event was part of a series of activations dedicated to empowering women through sport.
With a remarkable lineup of speakers, including royalty, Olympians, sports administrators, and leaders in their field, the seminar reinforced the FIVB’s commitment to promoting gender equality and creating opportunities for women globally—both on and off the court.
Among those in attendance was Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, and passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and girls in sport.
In his opening remarks, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo said, “Volleyball is inherently a gender-equal sport, offering equal prize money and opportunities. We passionately believe that we are ‘Together as One,’ and we remain dedicated to working with our global partners to empower women across the Global Volleyball Movement and beyond.”
The panel discussion “The Global Success of Women in Volleyball” explored the strides women’s volleyball has made worldwide.
Ms. Bouchra Hajij, President of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) and former national team volleyball player for Morocco, shared her journey of helping to develop women’s volleyball across Africa at both grassroots and national level. HRH Princess Ayah bint Faisal, FIVB Board of Administration Member, FIVB Volleyball Foundation board member and President of the Jordan Volleyball Federation, highlighted her efforts to develop women’s sports in Jordan, including initiatives targeting refugee communities. Margaret Ann Fleming, FIVB Board of Administration member, reflected on her transition from swimming to volleyball, emphasising the importance that volleyball and its values has played in her life and her pride in becoming Scottish Volleyball’s first female president.
The panel “Breaking Barriers: Women Athletes” showcased stories of perseverance and achievement from Olympians.
Louise Bawden represented Australia in both indoor and beach volleyball at Olympic Games’ and is now President of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission. She emphasised the importance of gender equality in decision-making processes and expressed her happiness at the equal gender composition of the Commission. Doaa Elghobashy is an accomplished beach and indoor volleyball player who was the first ever beach volleyball player to compete at an Olympic Games in a hijab, at Rio 2016. She stressed the importance of inclusivity and shared how volleyball allowed her to respect her faith and culture while excelling in the sport she loves.
Elizaveta Bracht a two-time medal-winning Olympian and Executive Director of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, spoke about volleyball’s non-contact and inclusive nature making it a particularly empowering sport for women. She also detailed her transition from athlete to sports administrator, highlighting the importance and value of education for athletes, alongside their sporting careers.
The session “Creating a Sustainable Future for Women in Sports in Qatar” focused on the regional development of volleyball and sport in Qatar.
Sheikha Asma Al Thani, the first Qatari woman to climb Mount Everest, inspired attendees with her story of breaking barriers and efforts to inspire a new generation of athletes. Liz McColgan, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and now Director of Athletics at Qatar Foundation, outlined her efforts to shape Qatar’s sporting future. Nada Mohammed, Qatar’s first female Olympic swimmer and Secretary General of the Athletes’ Commission, discussed her groundbreaking journey as an athlete and commitment to youth development. Mead Al Emadi, a key figure in delivering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, shared her insights into the development of women’s sports in the region.
Additionally, Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari and athlete Fatima Al-Dosari highlighted the growth of beach volleyball in Qatar and the promising future of its young athletes, emphasising their hopes of more teams from Qatar representing their country on the international stage. Moreover, participants from the West Asia Volleyball Association (WAVA) U20 Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship, taking place this week attended the seminar and gained inspiration from the discussions.
The event demonstrated the FIVB’s and its partners’ dedication to ensuring equity and inclusivity in volleyball. Speakers shared actionable insights and personal stories, illustrating how sports can be a powerful tool for the empowerment of women.
“These discussions have shown that volleyball is more than just a sport—it’s a platform for empowerment,” said Fabio Azevedo. “Together, as one, we will continue creating pathways for future generations to succeed.”
