GO FOR THE GAMES
WHEN it comes to the presence of women on the medal dais, in the coaching box and holding the whistle, the 2018 Commonwealth Games is already on track for gold.
Commonwealth Games to reflect Gender Equality Strategy creating opportunities
ALMOST two dozen aspiring female coaches will get a taste of what it takes to mentor the world’s best athletes at next year’s Commonwealth Games.
As part of its Gender Equality Strategy, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has reserved 20 positions and travel grants that will allow the women to be integrated into a national sport organisation’s GC2018 coaching team.
The innovative program comes on the back of next year’s Games being the first occasion men and women will compete for the same number of medals and several sports confirming they will boast a 50-50 gender split when it comes to technical officials.
“Sport has made inroads in recent years with the expansion of opportunities for women in sport but a representationbased approach is not enough,” CGF chief executive David Grevemberg said.
“That is why the Commonwealth Sports Movement is leading the way in properly and actively engaging women in all aspects of sport Commonwealth-wide.
“The CGF will continue to develop and implement positive and bold new initiatives that create a level playing field.”
The gender equality strategy, which was launched at the 2016 CGF General Assembly in Canada, has already borne fruit in terms of female referees and umpires.
The international federations of basketball, hockey and swimming have confirmed that, for the first time, at least 50 per cent of their technical officials presiding over the sporting action at GC2018 will be women.
A number of other sports have also achieved major progress, with rugby sevens recording a huge increase in female officials – from five per cent at Glasgow 2014 to 33 per cent on the Gold Coast.
“I thank and congratulate our committed partners at FIBA, FIH and FINA who are leading the way to ensure a level playing field for women technical officials at GC2018,” CGF president Louise Martin said.
The progress also flows in the other direction, with the number of men set to officiate in diving, netball and artistic gymnastics on the rise (see breakout).
Then there is the fact the CGF has approved seven additional women’s event categories to the GC2018 program to ensure men and women will compete for an equal number of medals for the first time – 133 men’s events, 133 women’s and nine mixed/open.
“GC2018 will be a Games of many
THE COMMONWEALTH SPORTS MOVEMENT IS LEADING THE WAY IN PROPERLY AND ACTIVELY ENGAGING WOMEN IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPORT COMMONWEALTH-WIDE. CGF CHIEF EXECUTIVE DAVID GREVEMBERG
firsts including (this one),” GOLDOC chief executive Mark Peters said.
“While we believe these changes are well overdue, (we are) still proud that it will be GC2018 that helps reshape female recognition in sport.
“We hope that work undertaken as part of our planning for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games builds momentum globally and we see future events follow suit.”
The Gender Equality Strategy also extends to the participation and representation of women and girls across media, marketing, volunteering and governance.
GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie said he believed the organisation’s commitment to gender equality differentiated the Commonwealth Games from other international movements.
“(We are) committed to ensuring that GC2018 is the most inclusive Commonwealth Games in history,” he said.
“I can proudly say that all Games partners have worked closely to make sure this commitment extends beyond the field to encompass operational and partner-delivered programs.”