5th World Conference Women and Sport

5th World Conference Women and Sport

By Martha Fierro

The International Olympic Committee organizes a World Conference on Women and Sport every four years with the objective of analyzing the progress made within the Olympic Movement and identifying ways to improve and increase the participation of women in the world of sport .Participants from more than 130 countries were present, representing National Olympic Committees, International Federations, Non-Government Organizations (NGO), and universities. It’s my privilege to inform you that the Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) was present at the 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, held in Los Angeles, United States.

The conference started by awarding the 2012 IOC Women and Sports awards

The award giving was held during the opening ceremony with the participation of the Mayor of Los Angeles Mr. Antonio Villaraigosa and after a welcome dinner were the participants got a chance to meet each other, exchange information and ideas.

Then came three intensive days of conferences and meetings, where many key points were presented and discussed for example:

• The Importance of Role Models and leadership.
• Leadership views on women in the world of sport.
• Making gender equality a governance.
• Impact of successful public polices for promoting women and girls in and through sports.
• Women and Girls with disabilities and Sport.
• Women, Sport and Peace in developing countries.
• The making of a complete person – striving for excellent in life through sport.
• Providing economic opportunity to women.
• Media coverage of women’s events.

All this topics were covered by specialist speakers that have been working with women and sports for many years, such as:

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee

Anita DeFrantz, IOC Chairman of the Commission of Women and Sport

Geena Davis, Academy Award-winning actress; Founder of the Geena Davis Institute
on Gender in Media.

Lakshmi Puri, Representative of the United Nations

Dr. Nukhayati Ali Assegaf – President of the Committee of Women Parliamentarians

Dr. Ugur Erdener President Olympic Committee of Turkey

• Lord Sebastian Coe – President, London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
• H.E. Aloysia Inyumba – Rwandan Minister of Gender and Family Promotion.
• Mellody Hobson – President, Ariel Capital Management; named a Global Leader of Tomorrow by the Davos World Economic Forum.
• Nancy Hogshead-Makar – Olympic medalist; expert on Title IX.
• Dr. Richard Lapchick – Director, Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports.
• Dr. Diana Meehan – Founder, Archer School for Girls; Founding Partner, VU Productions at Paramount Studios.
• Paralympians and Olympians.

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