Isabel Swan takes over BOC's Women's Sports Department

Olympic medalist in sailing will work on the development of actions aimed at women in national sport

Increasingly committed to gender equality, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC) has just created the Women's Sports Department, an area exclusively dedicated to the development of projects for female athletes, coaches, and managers. After a selection process, Olympic medalist Isabel Swan, sailing bronze medalist in Beijing 2008 (470 class), was chosen to fill the position, which foresees a detailed analysis of the participation of women in Brazilian sports, both in and out of competition.

"This is another important step in the process of gender equity in Brazilian Olympic sports that BOC has been leading since the beginning of this administration. And it will be up to Isabel Swan, a reference in world sailing and an athlete committed to the Olympic Movement, to take the lead in this project", states BOC president, Paulo Wanderley Teixeira.

"It is a privilege to work at BOC and have the chance to contribute to women's sports, giving support so that women can develop their work. Our vision is medium to long term, identifying the current scenario and studying the actions that can be effectively executed", says Isabel Swan, who resigned from BOC's Athletes' Commission to take this position.

"Since last year's electoral process, President Paulo Wanderley took on the commitment of creating a women's sports department. Since then, there was a selection process, in which several Olympic athletes sent their resumes, and the chosen name was Isabel Swan, whose experience and leadership profile needs no introduction", explains BOC General Director Rogério Sampaio.

Isabel's scope of action promises to be comprehensive, not limited to the support of Olympic athletes or those with the potential to compete in the Games. According to BOC Sports director, Jorge Bichara, the coordinator will also talk to the other areas of the entity and Brazilian Olympic Confederations.

"Isabel will make a diagnosis of women's performance in Brazilian sports, studying not only the competitive aspect, but also the participation in management positions and the athlete's environment. It is undeniable that some competitions and categories still have room for the growth of women's participation in the world scenario, but her work goes beyond the development of results", says Bichara.

Currently, 55% of the BOC staff is made up of women, who still occupy seven of the entity's 12 executive and management positions. In recent years, several actions have been taken in this direction, such as sending a 100% female team to coordinate the Brazilian delegation at the South American Games at Praia Rosário 2019 and the creation of the free course Prevention and Confrontation of Harassment and Abuse in Sports, offered in adult and youth versions, with the support of UN Women.

Moreover, BOC was a finalist in the Women and Sport 2020 Award, promoted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which honors organizations and citizens who have made contributions to the development, encouragement, and reinforcement of women and girls participation in sport through actions of opportunity, recognition, and female empowerment.

Isabel Swan

The first Brazilian sailor to win a medal in the Olympic Games - bronze in the 470 class in Beijing 2008, alongside Fernanda Oliveira - Isabel Swan was also a finalist in Rio 2016, this time with Samuel Albrecht, in the Nacra 17.

In parallel to her sports career, Isabel has been showing relevant performance in the search for athletes to occupy their space and have greater representation in the main decisions of the national sport. She is a member of the PanAm Sports Athletes' Commission, besides being a member of the CBVela's Administration Council. Vice President of Grael Project, the sailor has a degree in Social Communication from Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) and an MBA in Project Management from IBMEC, besides having worked in important companies, such as Ernst & Young and Zinzane.

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