First IF Women in Leadership Forum promotes gender equality
Representatives from National and International Federations (IFs) and stakeholders from throughout the Olympic Movement are taking action to advance the goal of gender equality at the first-ever IF Women in Leadership Forum.
The three-day Forum, which convened on Monday, is exploring ways to bring more women into leadership positions at all levels of sport. The gathering, a joint initiative by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of Summer International Federations (ASOIF), marks a further implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020.
The IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future calls for closer collaboration with the IFs to bring the level of female participation at the Olympic Games to 50 per cent, and to increase the number of women in sports leadership beyond the field of play.
At the 2012 London Games, 44 per cent of the competitors were women, and the percentage is on track to increase at the 2016 Rio Games. The IF Forum is focused on achieving similar progress in coaching positions, sports management, sports administration and other aspects of sport.
The IF Women in Leadership Forum will help achieve gender equality goals by expanding the women-in-sport network and by providing a unique opportunity for sports federations to share best practices and effective strategies for increasing the number of women in leadership positions. The Forum, held in conjunction with International Women’s Day on 8 March, will include panel discussions and practical workshops where participants can enhance their leadership skills.