Inspiring week of Volleyball in Qatar promotes women’s empowerment and inclusivity

The FIVB, FIVB Volleyball Foundation, IOC Olympic Solidarity, Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA), and the Qatar Olympic Committee joined forces this week to deliver a series of impactful events. These initiatives were designed to promote women’s sports, foster inclusivity and enhance community engagement.

Creating Pathways Program: A Legacy of Empowerment

The events were centred around the landmark collaboration between QF, the FIVB, and the Volleyball Foundation, which will see the growth of volleyball in Qatar through athlete development, skills training, and community-building initiatives.

Volleyball is the second elite sport promoted under QF’s Creating Pathways Program, designed to encourage physical activity and promote overall wellbeing, with an emphasis on the importance of exercise, nutrition, and health. The programme’s volleyball track includes mentorship, skills workshops, and targeted initiatives like school programmes for girls aged U10 and U14.

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Women in Sports Seminar: Creating Pathways

At the heart of the activities in Doha this week was the inspiring “Women in Sports: Creating Pathways” seminar, held at Education City Stadium in Doha on Monday. Hosted by the FIVB, the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA), and QF, the event brought together royalty, Olympians, and leaders in sports administration.

Panels explored diverse themes including ‘The Global Success of Women in Volleyball’, ‘Breaking Barriers: Women Athletes’ and ‘Creating a Sustainable Future for Women in Sports in Qatar’. They featured compelling stories from women who have overcome barriers and forged successful careers in volleyball and beyond. 

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.

Emphasising volleyball’s equal values, 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.”

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Inspiring the Next Generation through the FIVB Volleyball Foundation

Complementing the seminar was a volleyball activation event at Al Gharafa Beach Complex, hosted by the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, in collaboration with the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA), Qatar Foundation, and the West Asian Volleyball Association (WAVA).

Children from schools across Qatar gathered for a two-hour volleyball activation. The event offered a unique opportunity for the young participants to engage in exciting volleyball activities across 10 courts and interact with some of the most iconic figures in volleyball. These included Olympians and Volleyball Foundation ambassadors Louise Bawden, Doaa Elghobashy, Elizaveta Bracht, Ahmed Tijan, Cherif Younousse, Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova.

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WAVA U20 Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship

All of these events were held alongside the WAVA U20 Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship. This competition marked a historic milestone as the first-ever junior female beach volleyball event in the Middle East, supported by Olympic Solidarity under the IOC Youth Athlete Development Programme. Organised by the FIVB and IOC, the Championship took place at the Al Gharafa Beach Complex from 2–3 December, showcasing young talent from across Western Asia.

Athletes from Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Kuwait competed on the international stage, demonstrating the region’s growing passion for beach volleyball. Participants of the Volleyball Foundation activation had the unique opportunity to experience this competition live.

The week’s activities served as a prelude to the much-anticipated Beach Pro Tour Finals, taking place in Doha from 4 to 7 December 2024. The Finals bring together the world’s best beach volleyball teams, all vying to close the Olympic year out on the podium.