Kassala State in eastern Sudan hosted a women’s sports carnival attended by around 500 girls from different age groups. The event aimed to use sports to support psychological recovery, strengthen solidarity, and promote social peace amid the repercussions of the war.
The carnival marked the culmination of a series of activities organized by the Siyaha Network for Supporting Women’s Sports in the state. The activities began with a forum discussing the state of women’s sports and the social and logistical challenges facing women and girls. This was followed by various matches and sporting activities, including karate, volleyball, horseback riding, cycling, a women’s marathon, and a number of popular and traditional sports such as hopscotch, skipping rope, and Um Al-Hafra.
The event received broad community support and was attended by representatives of sports federations, media outlets, and people interested in sports affairs.
Women’s rights activist Rania Abu Al-Qasim told Mashaweer that “sports provide women and girls with a space for solidarity, discovering their abilities, and building self-confidence.”
She noted that “the war has narrowed the spaces available to them for engaging in sports and social activities.”
She added that “sports have gained additional importance under the current circumstances as a space for recovery, communication, and perseverance.”
She explained that “the large turnout at the carnival and the community support it received reflect the need to provide safe spaces for women and girls and encourage families and local communities to support their participation in sporting activities.”
