Saudi Arabia newspaper Al Sharq reports that the people in charge of building a new stadium in the city of Jeddah have received instructions to make sure that the stadium can receive female spectators when it opens in 2014.
This, of course, does not mean that men and women will openly mix on the stands, but instead women will be able to watch the match with their families from specially constructed private boxes. Similar facilities will be created for female reporters and photographers.
The Gulf Kingdom handles a strict interpretation of Muslim law, which means that women have limited access to many public places, and need to be accompanied by men at all time. The ruling Al Saud family however seems to be gradually pushing reforms, and after women were recently granted the right to vote, allowing women inside a football stadium is a careful next step.
The King Abdullah stadium is a planned 60,000-seater to be constructed in the Red Sea coastal city Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. A contract for the construction of the stadium, valued at $552 million, was recently awarded to Egyptian firm Orascom Construction.
A total of 15% of the 60,000 places is said to be allocated for families, which will include women. The new stadium is planned to be completed in 2014, and, if the initiative will prove a success, it is expected that it will lead the way for similar facilities at Saudi Arabia’s other major football stadiums.
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Photo 2: © Alriyadh.com
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