World Archery Secretary General Tom Dielen joined the International Gender Champions Geneva Initiative, pledging to work towards gender parity at all levels of the organisation, at an International Women’s Day celebration at the United Nations office in Geneva on Wednesday 8 March 2017.
The network of decision makers across diplomatic and international communities, as well as the private sector, targets meaningful change towards gender parity.
“World Archery has long been at the forefront of gender equity initiatives. The sport was one of the first to include a women’s competition at the Olympic Games, back in 1904, and we were the first international federation to have a female president,” said Tom.
The archery competitions at the modern Olympics maintain a 50:50 balance between male and female athletes, prize money at World Archery events is equal and the federation recently expanded its gender equity committee.
“There is more work to be done. In both our governance structures and those of our members, women should be empowered to take positions of responsibility and drive positive change for the sport,” added Tom.
The International Women’s Day celebrations at the United Nations office in Geneva saw dignitaries including International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, state and regional politicians and the heads of nearly 50 international federations and organisations discuss gender equity in sports.
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