Women in decision making positions in Sport. Nicos L. Kartakoullis, PhD Cyprus Sport Organization

Background information Since the 1970s, the IOC, the NOCs, Ifs, NFs and the widest variety of sporting organizations have worked to develop programmes both to enable women to practice whichever sports they wish and to train them as sports coaches and administrators.

Centennial Olympic Congress, Encourages women to participate in sport and to become integrated within sports organizations; 2.Invites the National Federations, the International Federations, the National Olympic Committees and other national organizations to ensure that women serve in the various executive sport bodies in order to allow them to make significant contribution to the evolution of sport and the Olympic Movement;

3. Decides that the National Olympic Committees will establish as a goal to be achieved by 31 st December 2000 that at least 10% of all positions in their decision making structures be reserved for women and that by the year 2005 this percentage be increased to 20%; 4. Recommends strongly to the International Federations and other bodies belonging to the Olympic Movement that they should establish as a goal to be achieved by 31 st December 2000 that at least 10 % of all positions in their decision making structures be reserved for women and that by the year 2005 this percentage be increased to 20%.

Modification of the Olympic Charter The Olympic Charter was amended to include an explicit reference to womens role in the Olympic Movement. Article 2, paragraph 5 stipulates that: (…)the IOC strongly encourages, by appropriate means, the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures, particularly in the executive bodies of national and international sports organizations with a view to the strict application of the principle of equality between men and women.

Positive discrimination can assist in the increased representation of women. However, more important than this is the winning of administrative leadership positions on merit.

There are many examples of women who have succeeded as top sport administrators. It is not an issue of skills, knowledge and experience…

What is the challenge then? TRUE INTENSIONS

Are there true intensions in this respect?

A huge gap between theory and practice

Subculture of gender dominance in leadership positions (especially in sport)

Eva Pasquier, FIFA Development Manager for Europe The answer is simple: challenge the traditional stereotypes and help to ensure that women are given the respect they deserve.