Sarah Gamal: First Arab and African woman to referee 3x3 basketball at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

3x3 basketball is set to make history at Tokyo 2020, and so is referee Sarah Gamal.

Both the 32-year-old and 3x3 will make their debuts at the Olympic Games with Gamal becoming the first Arab and African woman to officiate a 3x3 basketball game at the Olympics.

“My family is still beaming with the news of my selection. It’s a great reward for all the sweat and tears I’ve had to go through in recent years,” Gamal told AFP news agency.

“Being the first Arab and African woman refereeing 3-on-3 games at the Olympics is a positive. There’s no pressure on me and I am confident that this step will pave the way for other Arab and African women referees,” she said.

Gamal's Olympic appointment is another breakthrough in her basketball journey.

The Egyptian proudly wears a black hijab and is the first hijab-wearing basketball referee for FIBA at an international level.

The headscarf worn by many Muslim women is allowed to be worn by players under certain conditions since FIBA changed its rules in 2017.

“From the start of my journey as a referee, I haven’t heard one negative comment or faced any obstacles to me, being a veiled woman. The veil for me is normal and doesn’t cause any problems,” she told AFP.

Gamal will follow in the footsteps of Moroccan referee Chahinaz Boussetta as a fellow Arab, who refereed five-on-five basketball at Rio 2016.

3x3: from the street to the Olympics

Like the name suggests, 3x3 involves three players on a team with only one substitute allowed.

Played on half-court, the fast and furious game originated on the street and was adopted by FIBA to attract a younger audience. It was added to the Tokyo 2020 programme in 2017 and make's it Olympic debut with 4 other sports later this year.

The first team to reach 21 points instantly wins but if neither team reaches 21, then the team with the most points at the end of the 10 minute game wins.

Gamal will referee games from July 23 to August 8 when the Olympics take place in Japan's capital.

Gamal's basketball journey

Sarah Gamal was five years old when she started playing basketball.

She spent time coaching her older sister, but by the time she was 16 she was eager to gain a deeper understanding of the rule of the sport and swapped to refereeing.

At the same time she was also pursuing engineering studies.

“That helped me to organise my time between studying and training. It’s all thanks to my mother, who ran a tight ship until I reached university and studied civil engineering,” she told AFP.

Now a civil engineer in Alexandria, Gamal is used to juggling her work with her basketball passion, which has seen her gain plenty of international referring experience.

In 2017 she officiated games at the African Women’s Championship in Angola, followed by the 2018 Women’s Under-17 World Cup in Belarus.

Olympic challenge

Gamal knows the Olympics is a step up, but she is not deterred.

“I have refereed men’s games in the past and I have had a lot of success running them, which garnered the confidence of Egypt’s refereeing committee.”

She's also proud of her identity and to be paving the way for others who may want to follow in her footsteps.

“For me, the veil is normal and not a problem,” said Gamal.

To be representing her family, woman and Muslim community is also a great honour. One she takes seriously as she prepares to officiate her biggest games yet.

“The veil (hijab) hasn’t affected my refereeing in any tournament so far and to prove it I’m ready to take on the Tokyo Olympics.

“My thinking is focused on training and proper preparation to perform at this important event.”

Her goals for the future are also clear.

“I want to referee during the men’s and women's World Cups and maintain the confidence that the international authorities have put in me so far.“