During his address, President Bach also highlighted the efforts made by the IOC in recent years to close the gender gap on and off the field of play, which include ensuring full gender parity at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, achieving equal representation of women and men on IOC commissions, and increasing the number of female IOC Members to 40 per cent – up from 21 per cent since 2013.
“Despite this progress, we are not there yet,” he said. “Gender equality does not just magically happen. As your seminar theme highlights, we need everyone to ‘join the road to change’.
“On this road to change, your seminar is an important step. It is a great opportunity to proactively address gender gaps – on and off the field of play; among the athletes’ entourage; among coaches and officials – and wherever else they may persist.”
