Olympic Council of Asia President Opens BAL4HER Basketball Court in Senegal

The Olympic Council of Asia president, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, inaugurated a BAL4HER basketball court in Guediawaye, Senegal, Qatar's state news agency QNA reported on Saturday.

The court is the first of its kind in Africa under the BAL4HER initiative, which aims to provide a sports space for young men and women to play basketball and pursue their ambitions.

The facility is a result of a partnership between Qatar Foundation and the Basketball Africa League to expand opportunities for practising the sport and strengthen the presence of girls in Africa's sports landscape.

Sheikh Joaan praised the partnership, saying it has turned the belief in the role of sports in empowering communities into reality.

He also expressed gratitude to Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall and others who contributed to the initiative's success.

The BAL4HER initiative is part of a broader effort to promote sports development and gender equality in Africa.

The Basketball Africa League, launched in 2019, is a professional basketball league featuring teams from across the continent.

The partnership between Qatar Foundation and the Basketball Africa League reflects the growing importance of sports as a tool for social and economic development in Africa.

By investing in sports infrastructure and programs, organizations like the Qatar Foundation and the Olympic Council of Asia are helping to create new opportunities for young people, particularly women and girls, to participate in sports and develop their skills.