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ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST Asian Women and Sport (AWS) The First Asian Conference on Women and Sport was held in Osaka, Japan on the 9th and 10th of June, 2001, attracting more than 500 delegates from 14 Asian countries and regions, including Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Chinese Hong Kong, Mongolia, Cambodia, Japan, Syria Republic, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei. Delegates present at the Conference recognised the need within Asia to coordinate efforts for the advancement of women and sport, and agreed on three primary action points:
The Conference further called for the
interim working group to bring forward proposals on AWG membership,
aims, objectives and resources, and to develop a 5-year plan for
consideration by the AWS network before the end of 2002, which should
take into consideration the draft Osaka Five-Year Plan prepared
by the Steering Committee of the Conference. Armenia Working groups on women have been created in 12 national federations, and a steady increase in the participation of women in sport teams has been noted since 1998. In 1998, for example, 23 female Armenian athletes participated in international, European or World Championships. This number grew to 33 in 1999 and 43 in 2001. There has also been an increase in the percentage of women in decision-making positions in Armenia. Three of the 35 national sport federations have female Presidents, 30% of the staff of the National Olympic Committee (CNOA) are women and 25% of the specialists in the Sport Department are women. On May 7, 2001, a woman (who is also the President of the Women and Sport Commission) was elected to the Executive Board of the CNOA for the first time. And whereas, in 1998 women represented only 2% of the 213 CNOA members, in 2001 10% of the 93 members were women. Bahrain For the first time, the Institution of Youth in Bahrain is forming a committee for women's sport, which will be headed by a woman. Another first occurred at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, when a young girl from Bahrain participated in the swimming competitions. At just 12 years of age, she was both Bahrain's swimming champion, and the youngest female participant in the event. Cambodia Before 1970, Cambodia was a peaceful
country, where athletes earned numerous medals and female athletes
were very involved in sport. However, due to the war and government
regimes since then, the country's infrastructure and human resources
have been diminished.
The Cambodian Commission of Women and
Sports is planning to organise a seminar concentrating on women
and sport activities throughout the country. It also plans to create
sport clubs in some of the country's 100 factories, where women
represent approximately 80% of the workforce. By reaching this market,
the Commission hopes to encourage women to be more involved in sport.
In addition, a special program was held by the Commission for female
sport competitions in November 2001, in which both the organising
committee and competitors were women only. The Chinese Olympic Committee included the article, "Promote and develop women's sport in China," into the newly modified Chinese Olympic Committee's Charter, which was approved and adopted at the NOC General Assembly on January 11, 2000. In addition, the NOC has also reached the 10% target of women decision makers in sport required by the IOC, and at the central sport administration, 36.6% of the staff members are women, and women hold 12% of the decision making positions. Among the NOC's Associations, there are 5 female Presidents, one Vice-President and a Secretary General. In terms of the participation of female athletes at the Olympic Games, 44 women participated on behalf of China in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Games, representing 73% of the 60 athletes. At the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games, 186 women competed, representing 67.1% of China's team. The NOC has taken measures to prevent female athletes from possible training injuries. For sports that require more physical protection, such as gymnastics and diving, more coaches and trainers are now being provided to the National Teams, at a rate double that of men's teams. Chinese Taipei The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee adopted the Brighton Declaration in 1999. Female Presidents lead 5 (8.77%) of the 57 sports federations in the country, and in the National Olympic Committee, 8 (13.11%) of the 61 members are women, and women hold 50% of the middle management positions. In 2000, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee also established a Women and Sports Committee. Hong Kong,
China The Women & Sport Commission of Hong Kong, China was founded in January 2000, and inaugurated two months later in February 2001. The terms of reference of the Commission are to:
Within the short period of its existence, the Commission has:
The "Creating New Experiences in the New Century" conference was held in February 2001, focusing on the barriers females are facing in general and in participation of elite sport. Teachers, students, national sports association representations and members of the media attended, and many different views were exchanged. One of the major difficulties discussed in the promotion of sports was the limited coverage on local sports news in both print and electronic media. The Commission has also joined hands with other associations (such as the Bauhinia Junior Chamber) in promoting sport activities among women. I. R. of Iran
Women in national
sport organisations International training
courses and exchanges Participation in
international sport events A woman has recently taken on the position of "General Manager Of Girls" at the student's physical education office in the national university, to develop closer partnerships between this organisation and women and sport activities. Women's sport has strong partnerships with other sectors such as government organisations, universities, schools and media. These links help their women's officers and workers to improve their physical & sport activities. To increase the meaningful and visible role of women as leaders and decision makers, a woman has been selected as ''The General Manager Of Women's Sports Associations Joint Affairs.'' Japan The Japanese Association for Women in Sport (JWS) was founded in February 1999, and adopted the Brighton Declaration later that year. The first Japanese Women in Sport symposium, "Women in Sport for the 21st Century," was held in Tokyo from October 6-7,1999. As part of its mandate, the JWS has raised awareness about the IOC recommendations on the representation of women in decision-making bodies in sport at all levels of sport administration. Although the JOC could not yet reach this target, the Japanese Track and Field Association added two young female executive board members in 2001, and the Japanese Gymnastics Association invited three female board members in 2001. Even if there are not many associations that have achieved the minimum 10% requirement, it was clear that there was some positive movement and actions towards achieving gender equality in sport. Most sport-related associations and organisations are still unaware of the IOC recommendations, so it is important to promote the need to increase female decision makers in all sport associations at all levels. The JWS organised the First Asian Conference on Women and Sport in Osaka, Japan on June 9 and 10, 2001. On the occasion of this event, the Board of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) endorsed the Brighton Declaration. The 2000 Japanese White Paper on Women and Sport was published, and introduced in several newspapers, sports journals, magazines and on a Web site. A joint bid submitted by the Board of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), the Japanese Association for Women in Sport (JWS) and Kumamoto City resulted in Japan being awarded the 2006 World Conference on Women and Sport, and the IWG Secretariat for the period 2002-2006. Malaysia Malaysia's multi-racial culture ensures opportunities for everyone, regardless of ethnicity. Its society is built upon harmonious relationships and respect, and women's role in the development of Malaysia is emphasised by the recent creation of the Ministry of Women and Family Development, which includes a Women's Sport Foundation. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has a Women and Sports Committee, and in 2000, the OCM attained the 10% target set by the IOC for women's representation on its Executive Board and the Council. In addition, the OCM has adopted a policy whereby attendance at international seminars, conferences, study tours, Games and other such events is equally shared between male and female officials. Since 1998, the OCM has co-operated with the Heart Foundation of Malaysia, the Walk for the Nation and the Avon Run in encouraging women to be physically active. Government departments, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sport Council and Sports Schools, have all been involved in promoting equity for female athletes. Mongolia Banzragch Delgermaa was appointed as the first woman Executive Board Member of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee (MNOC). Since Mongolia's debut in the1964 Olympics in Tokyo, 43 female athletes have represented Mongolia at the Games, winning an Olympic bronze medal in 1992 in Barcelona. Myanmar The Myanmar Women's Sport Federation (MWSF) is responsible for enhancing nationwide programs which promote the participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity. One of its objectives was to introduce aerobic and callisthenic exercise across the country, to improve the physical and mental development of girls and women and promote the participation of women in sports. Initiated soon after the MWSF was established, the national Aerobics and Callisthenics Program was introduced and made compulsory at all schools, universities, government ministries and departments throughout the country. Women in government offices and factories, and even nurses in hospitals, were encouraged to take part in these exercises during their off hours. To enable the general public to participate in the program, a slot in State Television programming was provided every morning, in which aerobics and callisthenics were demonstrated. Women in rural communities, whose household and field work already entail a great deal of physical exertion, received special attention. For the purpose of advocacy and encouragement, aerobics and callisthenics competitions are now held regularly at the state/division and township levels, and an open national competition is organised for the Myanmar Women's Sports Federation President's Trophy. All of these tournaments are recorded and broadcast on the national TV program. Other advocacy activities include:
The MWSF initiated participation in a new sport, Netball, in May 2000. Two officials from the Myanmar Olympic Committee were sent to Singapore to undergo training in Netball, and in October 2000, the Olympic Committee invited three officials from the Malaysian Netball Association to provide intensive training to 30 coaches and 30 umpires. Participants came from across Myanmar, and the aim was to spread the sport to young women in all states and divisions. Now, the MWSF has begun giving basic training to selected Netball players, and since it is a new sport, many are taking an interest in the game. Another sport, softball, is also being introduced to young women with the assistance of the Myanmar-Japan Friendship Association. At the 21st Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in 2001, women won 13 of the nation's gold medals, 9 out of 14 silvers and 18 out of 53 bronze medals. Nepal Women in Sports/Nepal (WINS) was formed as Nepal's first NGO, with the mandate of "uplifting and empowering Nepalese women through their involvement in sports." WINS has since organised sport camps, and publishes monthly bulletins. Pakistan The 5th National Women's Netball Championships held in Peshawar, Pakistan received television coverage for the duration of the tournament by the Pakistan TV Corporation. Palestine The Palestine National Authority, already very active in the scenario of European and Mediterranean youth life, is also ready to assume all further responsibilities in order to ameliorate the position of women in various domains, including sport. Basing its actions on a strategic plan created in 1995, the Ministry has succeeded in co-operating with the Palestinian federations of different sports to establish female teams within most sport federations, including the Palestinian Football Federation. As a result, there are now female national teams for basketball, tennis, handball, karate, taekwondo, fencing and athletics, and Palestinian women have participated effectively in national, regional and international competitions since 1995 with promising results. The overall plan of action has been revised by the Ministry, and the following recommendations were formulated:
The Palestinian Ministry of Youth and Sports is committed to supporting all Palestinian sportswomen in their quest for gold medals in international championships. Philippines In cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the National Sports Associations (NSAs) and other women organisations in the Philippines, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has accomplished several major developments in recent years. In September 1998, the Philippine National Team was made up of 359 males and 174 females, with 167 male coaches compared with 15 females. At present, there are 298 female athletes in the national pool compared to 591 male athletes, and female coaches and assistant coaches account for 16 of the total of 159. Women sports leaders in the PSC, POC
and the various NSAs have likewise increased. In the PSC, one of
the five members of the Board of Commissioners has been a woman
every year from 1993 to 2000, and in 2001, two women Commissioners
were members of its hierarchy. In the Philippine Olympic Committee,
however, there has been only one female President since its establishment,
and of the 50 POC-accredited national sports associations, only
three have women Presidents. The PSC has opened opportunities for female junior athletes to undergo training programs both at home and abroad, to develop their full potential. PSC continuously subsidises the training expenses of talented females in various National Sports Associations, and is also taking charge of the training and studies abroad of female athletes. Participation in international conferences and seminars of women employees, officials and athletes were financed by the PSC, and sports activities for women were likewise organised and spearheaded. PSC was also the lead implementing agency of the National Women's Month Celebration held in March 2000, in cooperation with the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and Womensports Philippines under the theme: "Support the Women Empowerment in the New Millennium." Highlighting the year 2000, Women's month celebration was the 1st Philippine Womensports Festival, held on March 8, 2000 at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena. More than 6,000 women from various public and private sectors converged for the day-long affair, which was divided into four components: a multi-event friendly sports competition called "Palarong Pinay;" a dynamic sports forum, which was a vital occasion to present and discuss issues and concerns of women; a photo exhibit called "The Milestone of Sportswomen," and a Women Achievers in Sports Awards Night. On 13 March 2001, the PSC conducted the 2nd Womensports Festival at the Philsports. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is currently conducting a search for nominees for the 2002 "POC WOMEN AND SPORT TROPHY," awarded annually to promote the advancement of women in sport by recognising achievements and landmarks made to develop, encourage and strengthen the participation of women and girls at all level in the sporting world. Qatar For the first time, women have been given the right to be members of all administrative councils of clubs, sport federations and youth centres, and the National Olympic Committee of Qatar, not only by election but also by nomination. Singapore A major milestone was achieved with the establishment of the Ministry of Community Development and Sports, which provides policy direction for sports development. The Singapore Sports Council adopted the Brighton Declaration in 1999, and organised an annual National Sports Carnival for women in 1997, which has since grown to a record number of 20,000 participants in 2000. Singapore's Women and Sports Working Group (WSWG), created in 1999, has six committees, each of which have devised action plans based on the principles of the Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport. The committees are:
A Women and Sport Conference addressing women's issues in sport was held on March 15-16, 1999. Endorsed by the Ministry of Community Development and Sports, the Singapore National Olympic Council and the IOC Women and Sport Working Group, the conference not only addressed broad topics like women's health and wellness, but also provided delegates with a forum for open debate into the participation constraints that women face every day. All assistance programs of the Singapore Sports Council for athletes are made available to both male and female athletes who recommended by their respective National Sports Associations. The WSWG is trying to encourage the National Sports Associations to place equal emphasis for male and female athletes on their development programs, which may be hampered by the lack of female administrators, and has recommended several of its women members to serve in the NSAs. South Korea The Korean Association of Physical Education for Girls and Women held the 2000 Seoul Symposium of Physical Education for Girls and Women in November 2000. Representatives from 10 countries in Asia were invited. There are three main women sports organisations in Korea: Korean Physical Education Association for Women and Girls, focusing on academic activities to develop and improve female physical education instructors; Korean Women Sports Association, focusing on social activities in sport; and Korean Leaders Association for Sports and Physical Education, which focuses on promoting the status of women through social sports activities. Yang Ja Hong, Vice-President of the Korean Olympic Committee, reported at the First Asian Women and Sport Conference that the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) has three female officers on its Executive Board, and that the general membership of females in the KOC is approximately 20% - an increase since 1997-2000. Sri Lanka In spite of certain practical difficulties, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka has taken meaningful steps toward ensuring participation of women in sports administration. It has amended its Constitution to ensure that, in the case of all sports open to women, one of the two representatives of each Sport Association is a woman. In addition, one of the three Sports Administration Courses held last year under the aegis of the Olympic Solidarity Program was offered exclusively to women. As a result, thirty-five women attended the program. Ms. Jayani Pinnawale, an official from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, presented the situation for women in sport in Sri Lanka at the First Asian Women and Sport Conference. Emphasising the important impact of elite female athletes, she pointed to athletes such as Ms. Susanthika Jayasinghe (Athletics) and Ms. Damayanthi Dharsha (Netball) as role models for the growth of women's sport participation and increased corporate support. Government Authorities have ensured that no differences with respect to sex or ethnic background will affect an individual's opportunity to participate in sport. Funds have been provided to women's sports like Netball, which enabled Sri Lanka's team to participate in many international tournaments and win the Asian Championships. Five-year programs aiming to develop other sports, such as athletics, have also been successful, and additional support for women's sport is planned. Syria The General Sports Federation (GSF) and the National Olympic Committee endorsed the Brighton Declaration in 1998, and the GSF has since made it a mandatory requirement for women to be involved at all levels of sports administration. In 2001, 30% of the sport students at the Syrian College of Sport Education were female. In that same year, Ms. Nour Al-Houda Karfoul, General Secretary of the Syrian Olympic Committee (1983-2000), was awarded the Olympic Order by the IOC. She is the first woman in the Arab Region to gain this honour. Tibet Tibet's Nimmi Sherpa has founded the
Woman Sherpas Training Association. Thailand has established a Women and Sport Association as well as a Women and Sport Commission, which was under the National Committee. Together, these two organisations are working for women and girls in sports and social activities. Two conferences were held in Bangkok about the "Roles of Women and Sport," and each was attended by 250 participants. The Association publishes a Women and Sport journal three times per year, and works very closely with the Asian Working Group (AWG). The representative from Thailand (Dr. Supitr Samahito) was a founding member of the AWG. In addition, representatives from the Thailand Women and Sport Association took part in international conferences that were held in Korea, Japan, China and Malaysia. The Association has been active in raising awareness about the Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport, and has encouraged sport organisations around Thailand to adopt both the Brighton Declaration and the Windhoek Call for Action. Fortunately, more than 75% of sport organisations in Thailand have already done so. Other initiatives that the Association has been involved in include:
Thailand currently has one female member on the Board of its National Olympic Committee: Dr. Supitr Samahito, who was also appointed to be the Chairperson of the Women and Sport Commission. Sport Association
of Arab Women (SAAW) SAAW cooperated with partners to organise:
In terms of mass communication, SAAW:
SAAW's scientific activities have included:
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