Arab women urged to enter challenging world of sports media

ABU DHABI: There has never been a better time for women to enter the regional sports media world.

Women have been increasingly proactive in the media, especially in news broadcasting, over recent decades, but unfortunately still trail behind in the sports segment, which is growing dramatically, professionals told Arab News at the Global Media Congress in Abu Dhabi.

“Today we are very progressive in the sports industry. But there are still things that are holding back women journalists to pursue the sports sector,” Zsuzsa Csistzu, a sports journalist for 30 years, said.

“The biggest factor that holds back women in this field is the lack of courage, mostly because they don’t think they can do it.”

GCC countries today host some of the world’s biggest international sporting events, and more Arab female athletes are competing in them, as well as in other tournaments around the world.

“There is a huge interest growing for female sports in the Gulf region. And there is a huge female audience who would like to see more females on TV, who would like to understand sports from a woman’s perspective.” Csistzu added.

However, she has a positive message for young female reporters and journalists in the region.

“Now this is the time better than ever to try to step in and find your space,”  said Csistzu. “Be courageous enough to be yourself as a woman. You don’t have to resemble a man on screen, don’t have to talk like a man. Find your voice. Focus on the human beyond the athlete.”

Sawsan Saad, a sports reporter and stadium commentator in the UAE, told Arab News that she chose her career based on her love of sports.

“I used my passion for sports as a career, and I encourage other women to do that. There is a need for women to