It was at the Games of the II Olympiad in Paris in 1900, that women were allowed to compete for the first time in the Olympic Games. It is true that Baron de Coubertin firmly believed that the Games should traditionally remain a “eulogy for men’s sport”. Things evolved, however, enabling an increasing number of women to take part in the Games in the following years.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up a series of activities and programmes to promote the advancement of women in sport, including seminars, conferences, scholarships, etc.
As a matter of fact, the IOC is also highly concerned by women’s involvement in decision-making structures of sport organisations. Indeed, while women’s participation in the Olympic Games is growing fast, the number of women occupying leadership and administrative positions within the Olympic Movement is still limited. It is, however, necessary that both women and men be able to contribute to sports organisations with their knowledge, expertise and ideas.
The IOC has also undertaken a more general action in the field of advocacy, with the aim of raising awareness of the necessity to address and find suitable solutions to women’s issues in sport.
