Mubasher: Saudi Arabia intends to exert more efforts to empower women through sports by allowing them to race in the coming Riyadh international marathon which will be held in 2019, as reported by Gulf News.

The participation of Saudi women in the 2019 Riyadh international marathon is expected to be officially endorsed within two months, the Saudi daily Okaz reported on Sunday, according to the head of the Saudi track association, Hadi Al Qahtani.

It is noteworthy that the 2018 Riyadh international marathon, the first in the kingdom’s history, kicked off on Saturday, 24 February, with the absence of female runners.

In recent months, women have made impressive steps in the kingdom as the Saudi community is undergoing remarkable changes, including organising tournaments and attending sporting events in major stadiums, Gulf News added.

Restrictions on women have been eased recently, like lifting the ban on women to drive; this resolution is set to be effective in June 2018.

In September 2017, hundreds of women were allowed to enter a sports stadium in Riyadh for the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia.

Later in January 2018, sports matches were officially opened up to the female audience.

Gulf News said that currently, officials encourage women to take part in fitness and sports activities.

“The crown prince’s Vision 2030 programme for a post-oil era stems partly from an economic motive to boost domestic spending on entertainment as the kingdom reels from an energy slump,” the news portal added.

As a part of the crown prince’s reforms drive, the kingdom announced in December 2017 lifting a decades-ban on cinemas with the first movie theatres expected to open in March 2019.