Afghan Commentary Encourages Women’s Sport

Excerpt from report by Afghan Herat Province TV on 3 July

[Presenter] Women’s sport is a sign of civilization and development of a society. This issue will be discussed in tonight’s commentary.

[Commentator] After years of patience and research, medical scholars and the world’s psychologists agreed early in the twentieth century that human body and mind have organic and coordinative relations. [Passage omitted: Background information]

Sport matches between girls’ schools of different provinces will bring about trust, coexistence and friendship among the people of Afghanistan. In addition, it will lead to good relations, exchange of ideas, awareness and respect among the girls in the country.

This move can be very effective and helpful when it comes to developing the intellectual faculty, talents, and thinking capabilities, knowledge and awareness. It will especially help women and girls to be physically healthy. Furthermore, it can encourage a considerably large part of society and persuade them to work according to Islamic and moral values. It will create a quiet and trustworthy environment and future.

At the same time, the issue of globalization forces civilization to follow each other. Today, no one can live with discrimination and unworthy traditions which have no religious and moral basis.

In the meantime, modesty and protection of Islamic covering is also of importance. Women can become healthier, improve their thinking and the ability to use reason and logic and in the meantime, keep these values just like women do in other Islamic countries. They can set and pursue goals, such as achieving honour, development, growth, national unity, understanding, independence and civilization. Fortunately, the ground is prepared for women and girls to attend sports in Herat.

Activating your body will result in the activation of your spirit. And when both are active, your motives, talents, creativity and the ability to speak and communicate will grow. It has even been proven that sport will help humans live longer and protect their body from diseases.

Do not forget: healthy mind, healthy body.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.