Kuwait Seeks Investors
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Min 20º Max 39º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 17012 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 Kuwait seeks investors See Page 7 NEW YORK: Sara Akbar, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Energy (second left) looks on as one of the speakers addresses the audience during a one-day conference titled ‘The Gulf Economic Update: Featuring Kuwait.’ Akbar called for the diversification of economy in a way that would benefit the development and maintain growth. — KUNA Local FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 Local Spotlight Old school sector and the public sector. I agree that in the public sector, Is it a good idea to pass the torch to the young from those By Muna Al-Fuzai you may come across those who have been in service for who are older? There is a requirement of basic knowledge more than 30 years and refuse to leave, unless they suffer a and experience, and the young have no right to take the sudden stroke or death forces them to quit. But in the private torch if they cannot surpass those who came before us, so sector, it is a different situation. The question remains is why that those who come after us will do a much better job rather [email protected] do young people don’t find opportunities easily, even in the than creating a cycle of self-improvement with every genera- private sector. tion. The ‘new school’ should not seek a better version, but a There are tools for success, which most youth are not will- new one. here is a common perception among the youth that ing to accept. The first one is initiative. Bring ideas into action. I Another point here is the need to put ideas for sale, behind every failure, there is an older person whose know that young people are energetic and very eager to push whether of products or services. Think of all those who are Tways of thinking and decision-making are outdated. forward to use their college knowledge to generate profits being labeled as ‘old school’ - they made a fortune because The question is whether elders are really an obstacle in the and make money, but lasting value is created when the expe- they managed to sell their ideas even if they seem outdated path of the new generation. If yes, what could be the best rience of elders who belong to the old school combines with now. Social media has the power and impact to shape and role for senior leaders? their knowledge and judgment to create prosperity. reshape the ideas of young people. The danger of these ideas I had an amazing discussion recently with a group of The elders who are labeled as old school can be divided is seeking to be rich and famous, even if this means you are young Kuwaitis who are about to graduate and start their into two categories - those who haven’t adapted to the tech- making a fool of yourself. To many young people, creativity careers. What led us to this debate was their obvious concern nological and ideological revolution, and if they haven’t failed knows no boundaries, no rules, no laws or even traditions, about the future and whether it would be easy for them to already, they will within the next 20 years or so. The other cat- which do not have the ability to stop the new generation get promoted and climb the ladder of success at a time when egory is of those who have adapted to the new world order, regardless of the mistakes they sometimes commit. those who have been in service for many years won’t leave and this makes them much more intelligent than most peo- I love the energy and enthusiasm of young people and their positions and retire. These people are labeled as ‘old ple, because throughout their lifelong experience, they appreciate the way they visualize their future. This is normal school’. adapted to completely different systems and ways of work, and logical. But if they listen to the old school, they might There is also a difference between working for the private and they are well-known throughout the world now. obtain things they could use - like wisdom and experience. PHOTO OF THE DAY KUWAIT: Young Kuwaiti men jet- skiing offshore Kuwait City while in the background can be seen sever- al new buildings under construc- tion. — Photo by Jaber Abdulkhaliq/KUNA PROOFREADER WANTED )UHVK JUDGXDWHV SUHIHUUHG 1DWLYH (QJOLVK VSHDNHU 7UDQVIHUUDEOH 9LVD $ELOLW\ WR VWDUW LPPHGLDWHO\ 21/</<.8:$:$,7%$6(' $33/,&$176 :,//%( &216,'(5(' 6HQG &99 VDODU\ UHTXLUHPHQWV ZULWLQJ VDPSOH WR M WHQVHPLWWLDZXN#VER $%62/87(//<<12 3+21( &$//6 L o c a l FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 Challenges facing Kuwaiti female athletes Faye Sultan at the Rio 2016 Olympics Danah Al-Nasrallah. — Photo courtesy Dalia Al-Nasrallah By Athoob Al-Shuaibi cal and mental development more seriously than others. sports. Despite awareness of these benefits, Kuwait has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world, and the omen athletes in the Gulf face a range of discrim- Government discrimination highest among women, according to the 2016 global food ination. This year during the Olympics in Rio, one Kuwaiti track and field runner Danah Al-Nasrallah and security index. So how to encourage women in Kuwait to Wfemale athlete was branded a ‘loser’ in an Arabic swimmer Faye Sultan were the first female athletes to rep- make sport or exercising part of their daily life? newspaper after she failed to bring home a medal. Others resent Kuwait at the Olympics in their respective domains. “People who exercise enjoy quite a few advantages were derided on social media, insulted or simply excluded (Sultan competed as an independent athlete due to over those who don’t, including but not limited to the pre- from the news altogether. Arab female athletes also Kuwait’s ban from participating. Still like all the Kuwaiti vention of many conditions like heart disease, diabetes, receive less funding and less attention from sponsors, gov- athletes there, she wore a Kuwait flag on her clothing and cancer, etc. It helps gain strength, balance, better coordi- ernment and society for their sports. was vocal in support of standing as a representative for nation and improved mental health. It has always been my The situation is changing, albeit at a snail’s pace. This Kuwait, albeit unofficially.) dream to increase the participation of Kuwaiti females in year 31 women from the region competed at the 2016 Rio Both women believe that discrimination extends to sports on the world platform,” Nasrallah told Kuwait Olympic games, including weightlifters from the United governmental backing and funding. There are no female- Times. Arab Emirates, runners from Saudi Arabia and a swimmer friendly facilities in Kuwait for women athletes, as they are “Although I’m not working on a motivational project for from Kuwait. Now as more female athletes challenge tradi- designed to only serve men. “The facilities in Kuwait are Kuwaiti women in particular, I currently coach a high tionally male-dominated sports, earning more attention mostly geared towards men and their participation in school team of female runners in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But through their hard work, they also challenge society and sports. I would love to see more facilities that are available at this point in time, the best way to encourage Kuwaiti governments to alter their views about their achievements to women to give them a chance to pursue their dreams. I women to participate in competitive sports is through pri- and women athletes in general. envision more female participation with unrestricted vate sponsorship. This already occurs in many countries access to facilities and greater support networks,” Sultan where companies offer merchandise and/or money in Sexism in the media and society told Kuwait Times. exchange for an athlete to endorse their product. I am But the change is far from complete. Still many female For a while, Nasrallah had to train with the boys, and actually seeking sponsorship to fund my own running athletes faced humiliating comments on social media as eventually, she was told not to do so. “Our society is con- endeavors,” Nasrallah added. well as backlash from society. The absence of objectivity in centrated on the male. Where the male is elevated to the Notwithstanding that statistics do not bode well for local society’s perception of female athletes is similar to public sphere and praised for his achievements, women Kuwaiti women, Sultan is optimistic. “There is a mass of the discrimination their counterparts face all across the are typically relegated to the domestic domain and are untapped potential in Kuwait. We have a lot of raw talent, globe. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, activists and femi- often discouraged from public participation, particularly in and it is going completely unchecked. I personally know nists pointed out normalized instances of sexism and gen- sports,” said Nasrallah. many great Kuwaiti female athletes, but I imagine a lot of der discrimination in coverage of the games. For example, women shy away from pursuing sports seriously. when US trap shooter Corey Cogdell-Unrein won a bronze Growing support for sports and athleticism Something needs to be done to give girls and women the medal in the women’s trap shooting, the US newspaper, But Sultan believes all athletes are beginning to get option to pursue sports if they choose to do so,” she said. the Chicago Tribune announced the win by noting that more recognition in Kuwait. “I have witnessed a growing The best piece of advice Nasrallah gives to those begin- the ‘wife of a Bears lineman’ had won a medal.