In class, we read and discussed chapters from Sport, Politics, and Society in the Middle East by Danyel Reiche and Tamir Sorek. The book puts the intersection of cultural practices, local and international politics, and the love for sports all into perspective as they explore the different struggles some athletes from minority groups face, such as Palestinian’s struggle to attend games, the fight for women's inclusion in sports, contesting with defining national identity, and press freedom, and significantly the role and influence of elite sport policies and sports industries in policy-making and beyond. The significance of the course lay heavily on the fact that I took it in the Fall of 2021 when the Arab Cup was starting, and preparations and anxiety for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 were quickly approaching with all the present controversies and debates.
As part of a class assignment, we had to do a ‘press review,’ where we would look at local and/or international newspapers and the way they covered the topic, considering the political agenda and aspirations, the impact on political actors, and the issues that arise from sports institutions. The assignment allows us to critically evaluate and engage with the politicization of already politicized sports and how the media portrays it. My topic was the politicization and social media outbreak on taking a knee during the Euro 2020 football matches after racist incidents, an act inspired by the former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. Topics such as migrant rights and the Qatar upcoming Fifa World Cup also surfaced in our class discussions in understanding politics, sports, and how media, specifically, Western media, engaged with the news.
In my final research paper, I wrote about Qatari female athletes in the Olympics and ways of inclusion. I proposed that with the increased activity of social media in the region and beyond that Qatari female athletes can utilize social media and become role models to young aspiring athletes that feel constrained by a lack of confidence or social norms, through this the Qatari athletes will motivate and inspire a wider community to either become like them or only practice sports. Sportswomen often use social media to increase their self-brand, as they get less funding and opportunities than men in the country. It provides them with opportunities and connects them with fellow athletes. The local social media engagements allow the athletes and others to engage in female-safe talks about the issues female athletes face in the country and the politics behind them.