On behalf of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG), it is our very great pleasure to welcome you to the 2002 World Conference here in Montreal, Canada.

During the four years since our last conference in Windhoek, Namibia where we launched the Windhoek Call for Action, much has been happening around the world for women in sport. Thanks to your contributions, much of this is recorded in the Conference document "From Windhoek to Montreal - Women and Sport Progress Report 1998-2002".

Over the next few days, we will all be sharing experiences and things we have learned. As well, we will be taking time to celebrate achievements together and chart the course ahead. We hope that the "Montreal Toolkit", prepared as a legacy from the Conference will provide useful resources to help meet the challenges ahead.

Conferences provide a time to reflect, to gain new energy, to strike strategic alliances and to renew friendships. We would like to thank the Government of Canada (Sport Canada) for its generous support of this Conference and of the IWG over the last four years.

We wish all participants an enjoyable and stimulating Conference. Thanks to all of you for the work that you have done for women and sport.

IWG Co-Chairs