In 2012, the Monitor’s Christa Case Bryant stood on the sides of a grass field in Saudi Arabia, and watched as a group of girls played a lively game of soccer – Saudi style, meaning it took place in secret, at night, with no men present.

Yet the following year, the country said girls could take sports at private schools. And yesterday, it announced that public schools are allowed to offer gym class starting next year. 

In the United States, it’s hard to remember a world where girls and sports weren’t considered a natural pairing. Perhaps it’s not difficult to understand why Louisa May Alcott rattled cages in 1875 with her tale of an uncle who sees that the only thing wrong with his frail niece are her corsets and lack of exercise. But it’s worth remembering that it wasn’t until 1972 that Title IX required equal opportunity for women in school sports.

The Saudi move is part of Vision 2030, which aims to ease various strictures – including on exercise, which just 13 percent of Saudis engage in weekly. Perhaps the girls will lead the way in boosting that figure.