Sharjah: The Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) is gearing up for its biggest ever event, hosting 68 teams from 16 countries, represented by more than 1,000 athletes and administrative personnel.

Launched in 2012, the tournament, which is held every two years, has become a must-attend event in the Arab sporting calendar, bringing together world-class athletes to compete in a unique environment.

Running from Feb. 2-12, the 11-day event is being held in ten venues across Sharjah under the patronage of the Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Chairperson of Sharjah Women Sports Foundation (SWSF), Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and the Ruler of Sharjah.

AWST 2018 will begin with an opening ceremony at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in the presence of Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of AWST’s Supreme Organising Committee (SOC), Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports, and Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Bin Saud Al Saud, Director General of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports.

Also attending will be Khalid Abdulaziz, Egyptian Minister of Youth, Shaikha Hayat Bint Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa, member of the Bahraini National Olympic Committee and Chairperson of AWST Follow-up and Supervision, Engineer Sherif Al Aryan, Secretary General of the Egyptian Olympics Committee, Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Deputy Head of the SOC, Head of its Executive Committee and Director General of SWSF, and Nour El Sherbini, Egyptian world squash champion.

The opening ceremony, presented by renowned TV sports personality Mustafa Al Agha, will feature a range of events, keynote addresses, official speeches and a parade by participating teams hoisting the flags of Arab countries taking part in the tournament as well as special Karate and martial art displays.

The opening will also see athletes and technical and administrative teams taking the athletic oath before the audience and the SOC.

Outstanding participation matched by world-class quality

Held under the theme ‘The World Is Your Court - Together Victorious,’ the tournament is hosting 16 Arab countries represented by 68 teams to compete in nine sporting disciplines which are basketball, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, archery, shooting, fencing, show jumping, and a newly added sport Karate.

With 68 teams this year, compared to 51 that took part in the 2016 tournament, the figures reflect not only the highest level of competition, but also the success of AWST in terms of organisation, preparation and promotion.

This adds a new benchmark to Sharjah’s record of advancing women’s status in all field.