Gender Equity Coming to IOC, Says Athletes Commission Chair

(ATR)Claudia Bokel, Olympic fencer and IOC member, saysthe IOC is "on track" to implement reforms set forth by Olympic Agenda 2020--specifically those related to gender equity.

During a webcast on Tuesday, Bokel answered a series of questions about her experience on both the competitive and business sides of the Olympic movement.EY's Women Athletes Business Network hosted the event.

EY global vice chair of public policy Beth Brooke-Marciniak and Olympian Donna de Varona also contributed to the conversation with Bokel.

Responding to a question from Around the Rings on how Olympic Agenda 2020 could benefit female athletes,Bokel referencedrecommendation 11.

Entitled "Foster gender equality," recommendation 11 says the IOC will work with international federations to achieve 50 percent female participation in the Olympic Games.

"We need to altogether look at the program and see where we can achieve that kind of balance," Bokel said. "Sports organizations and the IOC are on a pretty good track.

"We hope that this recommendation will also spill over to international federations."

Bokel, who became chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2012, told listeners that Agenda 2020 and the efforts of IOC president Thomas Bach foreshadow a bright future for the Olympic movement.

"We want the Olympics to be accessible for everybody in the world."

De Varona, a member of the IOC Women and Sports Commission, echoed Bokel's sentiments and said change starts at the top.

"Women have to work through layers of politics within the Olympic Movement."

Brooke-Marciniak said sport cultivates values necessary for women to excel in leadership roles throughout the Olympic Movement.

"Sport teaches you how to win and lose," she told listeners, "Female athletes have an incredible sense of team, discipline, and confidence.

"Confidence that sport gives young women in business is incredibly important."

EY Study on Women and Sport

Throughout the webcast, the hosts referenced a study conducted by EY's Women Athletes Business Network and espnW in October 2014.

Findings in the report signal the potential for female athletes to excel in decision-making positions. In speaking with ATRthis past fall, de Varona said,"I think all of us in women's sport suspected 40 years ago that this would be the case.

"But there's nothing like research to give credibility to a belief system."

The study was based on an online survey of over 400 female executives. Nearly half of those surveyed serve on the board of directors at a company and the remaining 51 percent surveyed were in management positions.

The report shows that 94 percent of the respondents have participated in sport. Seventy-four percent agree that a background in sport can help accelerate a woman’s leadership and career potential.

Over 67 percent of respondents said a background in sport positively influences their decision to hire a candidate. Almost 70 percent of those who took the survey said they draw inspiration from athletes.

"I wouldn't be the same person if I didn't go to the Olympics," Bokel concluded during the webcast on Tuesday. "I think what sport can do for the world is extremely important."

Written byNicole Bennett

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