Latest news with #urbanSports
Arab News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
From pavement to passion: Islamabad's young skateboarders push for recognition
ISLAMABAD: On a hot summer afternoon in Islamabad's F-9 Park, laughter echoed across the cracked concrete as teenagers cruised over curbs and kick-flipped their boards with casual defiance. For this small but growing community of skateboarders in the Pakistani capital, the pavement is a playground — and a protest. Globally, skateboarding has long been associated with youth culture. It is a sport that thrives in urban settings and offers young people a sense of identity, freedom, and creative expression. Since its rise in the United States in the 1960s, it has evolved into a global movement, now part of the Olympic Games and supported by thriving communities from Brazil to Japan. In this context, Pakistan is fertile ground for the growth of skateboarding — a nation of over 240 million people where nearly 64% of the population is under the age of 30. But the country does not officially recognize skateboarding as a sport. Its official game is field hockey but cricket dominates pitches, TV screens and public discourse. Other sports like football, badminton and volleyball enjoy some government support but skateboarding remains entirely on the fringes. 'There's not even one dedicated skate shop in Pakistan,' said Ali Hamza, a 21-year-old engineering student who founded Skate Pakistan, a grassroots movement using Instagram to grow and connect the local skate scene. 'It's still seen by many as a toy.' Hamza's Instagram page, started in 2021 'just to see if anyone else was skating,' soon connected him to others across Islamabad and beyond. Today, Skate Pakistan meetups attract 12–15 regulars, with larger competitions drawing dozens. Most participants are teenagers with limited access to professional training or gear, and the initiative is driven entirely by volunteers and enthusiasts, growing into a fledgling community of teens and young adults passionate about the sport and eager to see it taken seriously. Hamza's own introduction to skateboarding came through Hollywood films as a child. At the time, he assumed the aerial tricks were camera tricks. 'Honestly, I used to think it was fake,' he said, laughing. 'Like, how can a board that's not even attached to your feet fly up like that?' Curious, he bought a cheap board from a local sports shop in 2019. With no coaches or skateparks in Islamabad, Hamza turned to YouTube tutorials and online courses to learn the basics. 'My first day on the board, my father was holding one arm and my brother held the other. I was just praying I wouldn't fall,' he said. Fall he did and repeatedly. But with each tumble, he said, the fear wore off. 'The more I fell, the more this fear lessened.' While Pakistan has a few modest skateparks — including one in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, and another set up with German NGO support in Karachi in 2020 — most skateboarders still ride on sidewalks, underpasses, or abandoned lots. Security guards at parks often ask them to leave. Potholes, rough terrain, and broken pavement pose daily hazards. But the lack of infrastructure and support hasn't stopped the community from growing. 'I mean, it's fun, it's something physical, you're out with your friends, so why not?' said Hasaan Khan, 16, a regular at the sessions held in Islamabad's F-9 park. 'Skateboarding builds up your endurance, since you keep falling over and over again,' added Rija Mughal, also 16. 'It's pretty good for your physical health too.' BUILDING A MOVEMENT For many, skateboarding took off during COVID-19, when lockdowns closed schools and sports grounds. 'I found an old skateboard at home during COVID, had nothing else to do, so I started riding around,' said Ahmed Ali Rana, who was 13 at the time. 'It just clicked.' Rana said he was nervous at his first Skate Pakistan competition but was surprised by how welcoming everyone was. 'That's the best part. It's not just about the sport, it's about the friends and the community.' Zayan Nadir, another teen skater, said skating gave him a mental escape: 'It helps people get away from their problems. But to build a bigger community in Pakistan, you need more skate shops, more skate parks, and more freedom for skaters.' Currently, there's no national or provincial skateboarding federation, and the Pakistan Sports Board does not include the sport in its list of recognized disciplines. In contrast, neighboring India has had multiple international skateboarding events and boasts over two dozen skateparks, including some that cater to underprivileged youth. The inclusion of skateboarding in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games also helped raise its profile globally, particularly among younger audiences. Yet, in Pakistan, there is little official recognition, funding, or visibility. Hamza said public perception also remained a big hurdle. 'There's still this idea that a skateboard is a toy, not a sport,' he said. 'That's what we are trying to change through social media.' At a recent meetup, teenagers practiced ollies and kick turns on a concrete ramp while others filmed slow-motion footage for Instagram reels. There were no referees, no medals — just scratched boards, scraped knees, and smiles. Hamza said the goal now was to push for formal recognition and better infrastructure so more young people across Pakistan could skate without obstacles — literal or social. 'We just want people to see that this is serious,' he said. 'It deserves space, support and respect.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Glasgow gears up for free weekend of BMX and skateboarding
The Riverside Jam: Urban Sports Weekend will take place at the Riverside Skate Spot (Image: Kerr Melville) A free urban sports festival featuring BMX and skateboarding is returning to Glasgow for a second year this weekend. The Riverside Jam: Urban Sports Weekend will run from June 21 to 22 at the Riverside Skate Spot, running from 11am to 7pm. Advertisement The event is designed to introduce children to urban sports through hands-on sessions and live demonstrations. (Image: Kerr Melville) Stewart Thompson, museum manager at Riverside Museum, said: "The Riverside Jam: Urban Sports Weekend offers great, free days out for all the family, as it has something fun for everyone. "You can try out BMXing and skateboarding, enjoy live music and fantastic food, and watch jaw-dropping displays from some of Scotland's most talented bikers and skateboarders. Read more: Lorraine Kelly shares classic Glaswegian response to TV bosses after being axed Rangers 'set' to appoint academy director as Everton man ruled out Advertisement Former Rangers boss 'risks career' by taking role at Liverpool, pundit claims "Our first-ever Riverside Jam was a phenomenal success, and we can't wait to welcome visitors to the Skate Spot for two action-packed days of urban sports and entertainment." The weekend will include 'come-and-try' BMX and skateboarding classes from 11am to 3pm, with skateboards, bikes, helmets, and pads provided. (Image: Kerr Melville) Freestyle competitions will follow in the afternoon, showcasing some of Scotland's top skateboarders. Saturday's programme will also include a free Go Skate talk at noon, featuring artists Raydale Dower and Toby Paterson. Advertisement They will discuss the design of the Skate Spot and the cultural impact of skateboarding and BMX in Glasgow. On Sunday, BMX professionals including Kriss Kyle, Alex Donnachie and Sean Munro will compete in a Red Bull high air contest. The festival is organised by the Riverside Museum in partnership with The Loading Bay, Glasgow Urban Sports, and re:ply Skateboards. Toby Paterson, artist and skateboarder at Glasgow Urban Sports, said: "Everyone at Glasgow Urban Sports is excited about the Riverside Jam, which is exactly the kind of vibrant event that we had envisaged when we were working together with the Riverside Museum to deliver the new spot. Advertisement "It shows just what a grassroots scene can do with the enlightened support of city institutions." Danny Aubrey, founder of re:ply Skateboards, said: 'The Riverside Museum plaza has positively impacted the Glasgow urban sports community, and having such a supportive team at the museum and at the council has helped create a destination for skateboarders and BMXers worldwide. "We wanted to celebrate the amazing space by hosting a festival annually where everyone can get involved and see the unlimited benefits of urban sports, with the hope that it can expand each year."
