Women and Sports

In view of the 2004 Olympic Games, today’s conference takes on special significance, as it presents an important opportunity to develop positions and promote the appropriate policy measures in order to improve and increase the participation of women in sports activities.

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament, recognizing the seriousness of the issue, accepted the proposal of MEP Mrs. Genevieve Fraisse, who is with us today, and entrusted her with preparing the first European Parliament Report on Women and Sports.

I would especially like to thank the Minister of Culture, Mr. Evangelos Venizelos, for his swift and positive response to my proposal to organize this international conference.

It is a fact that the two sexes have been treated unequally throughout the historical course of humankind. In the past, women, with very few exceptions, did not participate in politics, the economy, science, art, or literature. The same “taboo” applied to sports. The progress of women in this field was slow, as sports have always been a privileged domain for men.

In the ancient Olympic Games, religious beliefs and social structures did not allow women to participate. They could not even enter the areas where the games were held or the stadium, even as mere spectators. Olympia was dedicated to Zeus and, therefore, was a sacred place for men. However, women held their own games in Olympia. These Games, dedicated to the goddess Hera, had their origins in traditional fertility rituals. According to some estimates, these games preceded the exclusively male Olympic Games in time.

At the turn of the previous century, when the modern Olympic Games took shape, there was much debate about the principle of women’s participation. The founder of the Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, declared himself an opponent of women’s participation, expressing the view that, since they could not compete on equal terms with men in every event, they should not even be allowed to participate. This opinion met with resistance from many members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who argued that women had the right to participate in the Games, competing in sports that were compatible with their abilities.

Women’s sports began to emerge at the end of the ^19th century, when women became more socially and economically active. The first significant development for female participation occurred at the second Olympic Games, in 1900 in Paris. At that time, Charlotte Cooper became the first female Olympic champion, winning a gold medal in tennis. The other unique sport in which women were allowed to participate was golf. Although swimming was added to the Olympic sports for women in 1912, their participation remained symbolic until 1924, when the IOC decided to open the doors for greater female participation in the Games.

Until World War II, no significant progress was made. However, since then, and particularly over the past 30 years, social developments have changed perceptions of women’s performance in sports. The period from 1976 to 1992 marked unprecedented progress for women’s sports. This progress was characterized by a large increase in the number of Olympic sports in which women participate. By the end of the ^20th century, the position of women in sports had clearly improved. In Atlanta, female athletes reached 40%. Nevertheless, participation from countries in Latin America, Africa, the Far East, and Islamic countries remains very low. I would also like to mention the Paralympic Games, where women’s participation accounts for only 25% of the athletes, according to data collected at the Sydney Games.

In the past, women’s sports were certainly not as important as they are today, and girls were not encouraged to engage in sports. Professional women’s sports did not receive coverage from newspapers, radio, or television. Women did not have the opportunity to regularly attend physical education classes or participate in team sports as they grew up. Many sports were not open to girls.

It had not yet been recognized in our societies that, in order to be healthy, it is important to engage in physical activity. Over time, women became more active in sports, partly due to the growing awareness of the importance of exercise for maintaining health. More and more evidence is now emerging regarding the benefits of an active lifestyle for women and girls. Research shows that sports have a positive impact on the health of women and girls, as it reduces the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Famous female athletes of the ^20th century contributed to the advancement of women’s sports to higher levels.

However, despite the increase in women’s participation in sports in recent years and the growing opportunities for women to compete in national and international competitions, there has not been a corresponding rise in the representation of women in leadership roles and decision-making centers. It is noteworthy that women are underrepresented in administration, coaching, and the organization of sporting events, particularly at the highest levels. This situation raises concerns, as without women’s participation in leadership and decision-making in sports, gender equality in opportunities cannot be achieved.

The International Organizing Committee, concerned with the issue of women’s participation in the decision-making structures of sports clubs and organizations – where women continue to be underrepresented – has set the following goal: by December 31, 2005, the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International Sports Federations (IFs), and sports organizations belonging to the Olympic Movement should aim for at least 20% of positions at all decision-making levels (especially in executive and legislative bodies) to be held by women. Currently, more than 66% of National Olympic Committees and 43% of International Federations have met this requirement.

If we truly want to promote the role of women in leadership and decision-making processes in sports, then the following steps need to be taken:

– The number of women in leadership positions at all levels of sports activities must be increased.

– The personal and professional development of women in the field of sports, sports organization, and management must be supported, along with providing more opportunities for women to access these positions.

– The personal and professional development of women at all levels of coaching, sports event organization, and sports administration must be supported.

– Mechanisms must be created to ensure that young women have a voice in the development of policies and programs that concern them.

– The media should be encouraged to positively portray and adequately cover the scope, depth, quality, and benefits of women’s and girls’ involvement in sports.

– The achievement of gender equality standards set by the International Olympic Committee in 1998 must be supported.

As we approach the 2004 Olympic Games, let us turn the idea of female participation into the most important message of the Games. Let the Olympic Games become a true celebration of humanity that promotes the values of peace, democracy, equality, respect for diversity, dialogue among cultures, creative coexistence of people, and the peaceful resolution of any differences.