Saudi Women to Be Allowed Into Sports Stadiums Next Year
The General Sports Authority described the decision as one
that will allow "families" into the stadiums — a term authorities use to refer to the public spaces that accommodate women.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia will allow women into sports stadiums as of next year, the kingdom’s latest step toward easing rules on gender segregation —
but they will be seated in the so-called family section, an area separate from the male-only crowd.
In 2015, an Australian female supporter of Western Sydney Wanderers soccer club was permitted to attend a match at Riyadh’s main stadium
and a group of American women traveling with members of U.S. Congress watched a local club match, also in Riyadh.
The decision comes after the public appeared to welcome a decision to allow women to drive for the first time next year.
The authority said the three major sports stadiums in the capital, Riyadh,
and the cities of Jiddah and Dammam will undergo renovations to accommodate families.
Two years ago, a Saudi woman was arrested while attending a soccer game in Jiddah’s al-Jawhara stadium, which opened to the public in 2014.
Police were quoted in local media at the time as saying
that security spotted her at the stadium "deliberately disguised" in pants, a long-sleeve top, a hat and sunglasses to avoid detection.
