Doha — Qatar’s expanding sports sector is increasingly serving as a platform to promote women’s empowerment, according to a senior European Union official speaking during a panel discussion held on International Olympic Day in Doha. The event underscored a collaborative effort between Qatar and the European Union to advance the rights of women and girls through sports.
Angelos Lenos, deputy head of Mission and head of Political Section at the European Union Delegation to Qatar, emphasized that the panel provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from some of the country’s leading female athletes. These athletes shared their personal experiences regarding participation in sport, as well as the support they have received from institutions and their families.
“We discussed the real issues that involve their participation in sports and how they grow personally and professionally,” Lenos said, highlighting the importance of institutional and familial backing in fostering female athletes' development.
Lenos also drew attention to Qatar’s role in fostering a safe and supportive environment for women in sport, noting the nation’s active engagement at both national and international levels. He pointed to Qatar’s involvement in a core group promoting a Human Rights Council resolution last year focused specifically on women’s participation in sports.
Since the establishment of the EU Delegation in Qatar in 2022, Lenos explained, there has been ongoing cooperation with various Qatari entities to promote shared values around gender equality and inclusion. The EU has partnered with a range of organisations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aspire Academy, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Financial Centre, the Olympic Museum, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
“We see that we find partners in Qatar who are aligned on this purpose,” Lenos said. He emphasized that the leadership within Qatar plays a critical role in driving progress, expressing confidence in the continued growth of women’s participation in sports in the country.
“The leadership is the most important element here, and we see a very strong desire from the Qatari leadership to promote women in sports,” he remarked. “I have no doubt that the future will only be brighter and stronger, with many more women participating and bringing medals to Qatar.”
Beyond athletic achievement, Lenos stressed that increased involvement of women in sports contributes to broader social benefits by opening public spaces and enhancing visibility for women as active members of the community.
Highlighting the impact of recent major sporting events, he noted that the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar helped increase the country’s profile as a sports destination and accelerated the development of its sports infrastructure and systems. The momentum generated by the World Cup is expected to drive even greater opportunities for women athletes as Qatar hosts more competitions in the future.
The event concluded by reinforcing the idea that sport offers more than competition; it serves as a vital arena for building confidence, encouraging inclusion, and inspiring leadership among women and girls—especially when supported by institutions, families, and communities throughout their athletic journey.