Second IF Women in Leadership Forum concluded in Lausanne
OVER 65 REPRESENTATIVES FROM NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS (IFS), NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (NOCS) AND EXPERTS WERE PRESENT AT THE SECOND IF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP FORUM IN LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND. ON THE AGENDA: WOMEN LEADING IN SPORT. Following a successful inaugural edition last year, the three-day Forum jointly organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) once again brought together female leaders in sport to discuss gender equality. Combining training and mentoring sessions by two experts as well as panel discussions, this year’s gathering aimed to identify concrete measures to increase development opportunities and the recruitment of women in decision-making positions at all levels of sport, including management, coaching and officiating positions, in line with the IOC Executive Board’s call to the Olympic Movement last December to achieve a minimum target of 30 per cent of women in leadership roles by 2020. In her opening speech, Chair Lydia Nsekera stressed to the participants: “We need to continue these good results and not weaken in our efforts to ensure that even more women are elected to positions of responsibility within IFs, national federations and clubs. This is another of this Forum’s objectives: to give you helpful advice on performing your role, but also to enable you in turn to become mentors for other women working or seeking to work in the world of sport.” IF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP FORUM CHAIR In turn, ASOIF President Ricci Bitti said: “In my view, striving for gender equality within our organisations is interlinked with good governance. It is not about ticking any boxes, but about developing a favourable culture and then implementing certain principles consistently across all organisational policies and activities.” ASOIF PRESIDENT In this period of the electoral cycle, the Forum is a unique opportunity to help prepare a large number of women in middle and senior management positions in NOCs, National Federations and other international organisations to successfully stand for election. IOC Weightlifting was well represented at the 2nd IF Women in Leadership Forum with President Dr. Tamas Ajan, Executive Board Member Moira Lassen and Ursula G. Papandrea USA Weightlifting President. On this occasion the IWF celebrated WOMEN by wishing an empowering International Women's Day. Dr. Ajan Tamas also participated in the Panel discussions together with ITU President Marisol Casado, Trinidad and Tobago NOC President Brian Lewis and FIH Executive Member Hazel
