In light of Notre Dame University-Louaize’s (NDU) persistent efforts to underline the active role played by women in the sports realm, the Department of English and Translation (DET) and the Department of Psychology, Education, and Physical Education (DPED) of the Faculty of Humanities, in collaboration with the French Institute of Lebanon (IFL-Jounieh), hosted a panel talk revolving around the theme “Women and Sports in Lebanon”. The discussion, moderated by Dr. Maya El Hajj, Chairperson at the Department of English and Translation and Ms. Marjolaine Deborde, Deputy Director of the Sports Academy School, was divided into two sessions, with the first addressing recent developments in the sports fields and the second tackling the valuable contributions of women in athletics. The attendees comprised notable participants and guests. Those included, but were not restricted to, Ms. Sabine Sciortino, Director of the French Institute and Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor at the French Embassy to Lebanon; Mr. Alexandre Khouri, Assistant Director of the IFL; Ms. Sarah Hobeika, Cultural and Digital Mediator at the IFLMs. Pamela Azouri, Chairperson of the Department of Religious, Cultural and Philosophical Studies and Foreign Language Coordinator; and Dr. Nadim Nassif, Associate Professor and Chair of the International Center for Sport Policy and Governance (ICSPG) think tank. Ms. Pamela Azouri, Chairperson of the Department of Religious, Cultural and Philosophical Studies and Foreign Language Coordinator; Mr. Elias Boutros, Head of the Athletics Department; Moreover, distinguished female athletes and Olympians took part in the event, namely NDU alumna Ray Jacques Bassil, May Wafic Sardouk, and Tvin Carole Moumjoghlian.
For the event’s first session, Dr. Nadim Nassif presented his recent findings and global sports rankings. As the Chair of the ICSPG, a sports think tank endorsed by the World Sports Rankings (WSR) and dedicated to providing detailed classifications on the athletic performances of countries, Dr. Nassif presented the World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport (WRCES) that he had previously worked on. With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, France’s athletic abilities have made headlines and been the subject of multiple discussions. Seeking to provide reassurance to avid French supporters and representatives of the French Embassy in Lebanon present in the event, Nassif examined his detailed findings, which ranked France as the second-best country in international sport.
“Though commonly consulted and referenced, the Olympic Medal Table is not an official ranking. Therefore, unlike what was depicted by this listing, France can be considered a highly competent nation in the sports arena,” Dr. Nassif maintained, providing accurate statistics and examples from his meticulous, formerly-conducted study. Moreover, he proceeded to address the specific characteristics that sports analysts and researchers must adhere to when setting forth new rankings. Be it by taking into account the number of medals awarded, the type of sport, or even the playing techniques, researchers should consider such factor prior to developing detailed rankings. To that end, Dr. Nassif explored the various ways in which the Olympic Medal Table conflicts with these set requirements, further addressing the reasons rendering it an ineffective and inaccurate approach. Lastly, Dr. Nassif covered the elements that make the ICSPG’s recently-developed rankings much more accurate than their counterpart. As per Dr. Nassif, one of the major distinctions that the WRCES brings to the table is that it succeeds in providing a much more holistic and inclusive ranking. As a matter of fact, while other rankings are often limited, the WRCES awards points to all 206 countries involved in competitions, hence enabling any country to showcase its progress and yearly advancement. Dr. Nassif concluded by mentioning the recognition that the WRCES has garnered worldwide, citing that this ranking has been introduced in the curricula of diverse learning institutions, such as that of Harvard University.
Following Dr. Nassif’s presentation, Mr. Alexandre Khouri took the opportunity to thank the University and its organizing committee for organizing and overseeing the panel discussion, an event he remarked as significantly important during the French Language Week. Khouri reiterated the noteworthiness of acknowledging the crucial and active role of women in sport, particularly through culturally-enriching events like this one. He restated the IFL and French Embassy’s consistent endeavors to honor the French language and launch events that aim to enhance the general public’s knowledge on the matter. Khouri concluded by handing the conversation over to the session’s moderator, Ms. Marjolaine Deborde, who in turn introduced the much-celebrated female athletes, Ray Jacques Bassil, May Wafic Sardouk, and Tvin Carole Moumjoghlian.
Within a rewarding interchange and enlightening dialogue, the three successful women reflected on their individual journeys and the hurdles that they had to face along the way. As an acclaimed Olympian trap shooter, Ray Jacques Bassil recalled the challenges and struggles she faced growing up, notably during an era that pushed the narrative that women were incapable of becoming thriving athletes. She explained the weight that comes with being the first Lebanese and Arab woman competing in the Arab Championship. Noting that she has been professionally practicing this sport for 18 years, the NDU alumna expressed her pride in representing her country on the global scale, although this meant considerable mental and physical effort from her part.
As for widely recognized table tennis player and Olympian Tvin Carole Moumjoghlian, she took a look back into her humble beginnings that paved the way to her future success. She addressed the fact that even the tiniest of support can go a long way, attributing her current achievements to her father who motivated his then-17-year-old ambitious daughter. Moumjoghlian also highlighted the huge impact of choosing the right sport techniques and equipment, emphasizing that by changing her personal gear and style of play, she was able to reach new heights. Though seemingly insignificant, Moumjoghlian maintains that exploring new playing techniques led to her winning international competitions and later participating in the Olympics, a period she believes constitutes an unarguably huge turning point in her life.
When it comes to May Wafic Sardouk’s intervention, the 400-meter champion and Olympian touched down on the relation between her professional and personal life, reflecting on the meaningful lessons her work environment has taught her. Sardouk acknowledged the necessity of remaining calm and maintaining composure during chaotic times, a skill she now masters thanks to her involvement in athleticism. She also underscored the enormous strain of putting up with mounting pressure and persevering in spite of failure. Overall, Sardouk's intervention offered a compelling narrative of resilience, determination, and personal growth, resonating with audience members who might be going through similar experiences, whether on the field or in their own personal lives.
The event represented a platform to showcase the contribution of women in sports, not only as athletes but also as role models and inspirations for future generations. The stories shared by Ray Jacques Bassil, Tvin Carole Moumjoghlian, and May Wafic Sardouk illuminated the challenges and triumphs experienced by women in the sports arena, highlighting the resilience, determination, and passion required to succeed.