Tangible move towards gender parity in sports administration a promising start

Kirsty Coventry's election as IOC president marks a historic moment for women in sports, paving the way for gender equality in leadership roles.

The monumental import of Kirsty Coventry’s election as International Olympic Committee (IOC) president has just set off its first ripples. In Coventry’s ascent, women in sport everywhere – athletes, coaches, officials, management executives, administrators, technical officials – see the creation of a space for their tribe that no matter what, cannot be uncreated. For decades, women were treated as invisible on the field of play first and more recently, in sporting boardrooms. But today, with this sudden crack of lightning,

Zimbabwean candidate for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry reacts after being elected during the 144th IOC Session on the day of the election of the next President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Costa Navarino, Greece on March 20. (AFP)