The IOC has made huge strides in gender equality both on and off the field of play – from the training ground to the boardroom and beyond.

• Paris 2024 was the first Olympic Games with full gender parity on the field of play after the IOC distributed the quota places equally to women and men: 50/50.

• Gender parity was achieved in the number of torchbearers at Paris 2024, as well as among staff and volunteers.

• Milano Cortina 2026 will be the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history – with a record 47 per cent female participation, a 1.6 per cent increase on Beijing 2022.

• 47 per cent of the IOC Executive Board members are women (7 out of 15) – up from 27 per cent in 2013.

• 43 per cent of IOC Members are women – up from 21 per cent in 2013.

• 42 per cent of the IOC Commissions are chaired by women – up from 18 per cent in 2013.

• 50 per cent of IOC Commission positions are held by women – up from 20 per cent in 2013.

What they have said

“It breaks the [stereotype] of women being weak or incapable. So, I think this is fantastic. The Olympic Games are a global platform. There are many different cultures in the world where it may not be 50/50 yet. So, it's a great encouragement and it's a great movement. And I hope that in the very soon future, things might be like this all over the world.” – Gaby Ahrens (Namibia) three-time Olympian, shooting

“Sport has the power to go well beyond sports. It’s the equaliser where race, gender and ethnicity don’t play a role. The best athletes are out there competing; it doesn’t matter what you look like or who you are. It’s about how hard you have worked.” – Katrina Adams, World Winner of the 2023 IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award