Role models celebrated orld hle ics a es significan s e s owards gender e ui

WORLD ATHLETICS is to take a significant number of new steps towards gender equity in the sport this year, including 40 per cent female representation on the World Athletics Council.

These steps are outlined in a series of new and impactful pledges – published in celebration of International Women’s Day – which include implementing individual safeguarding policies in each of their 214 Member Federations, and the extension of our Ukraine Solidarity Fund – enabling dozens of female Ukrainian athletes to take part in World Athletics Series events.

Each of the new pledges is designed to improve gender equity and close the gender gap in athletics as the organistaion enters the third year of their #WeGrowAthletics campaign. Initially launched on International Women’s Day 2021 with the ambition of eliminating gender bias in athletics, this campaign has already made notable strides in fulfilling or initiating all of the pledges World Athletics have made in the last 24 months.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, pictured left, said:

“I am immensely proud that World Athletics is once again leading the way for gender equity in sport. It was an important part of the reforms we introduced in 2016.

“In today’s world, it is not enough to provide equal opportunity, we must provide equity.

“In order to achieve true equity in our sport, it is important that we offer our female athletes, administrators, and officials the tools and environment they need to be empowered to pursue careers at all levels of athletics – be it by setting quotas for female representation on our Council, or providing more e ible learning and development opportunities that better suit women’s commitments –we are absolutely dedicated to making our sport equitable and representative for all.

“I am also proud that, according to research conducted for us by Nielsen, 74 per cent of our fans believe that World Athletics is truly committed to championing equality.

Many of its young players have joined local grassroots clubs and some have joined Rotherham United CST as volunteers and have gained coaching ualifications.

“We do a lot of hard work with our United 4 Communities group and I think we’ve earned this award,” said coach Ben Bagshaw. “The impact we’re having on the participants has been awesome.”

“We are happy to lead the way on gender equity initiatives and set the example for other International Federations.

“However, it is important that all of our stakeholders take an active role in helping us achieve our collective goals in this area. From our Member Federations to Local Organising Committees, to the media and photographers who cover our events, each of us plays a crucial part in achieving equity for women in athletics, sport, and every aspect of life.

“I invite everyone in our sport to do their part in standing up for gender equity whenever and wherever they see a need for improvement.”