Special Edition Sydney 2000

Women and Sport:
Sydney 2000 and Beyond

Photo: Lieven Coudenys

During the past several years, the Sport Technical Department has placed a high priority on improving opportunities from women in Paralympic sport. I am pleased to inform you that 80 of the 123 countries in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Summer Games have entered women athletes. This is an increase of 31 countries since 1996. In Atlanta only 53 per cent of nations included women athletes; in Sydney 65 per cent of nations will include women athletes. Since 1996, the total number of women athletes has risen by nearly 35 per cent. The number of women's events which did not meet the criteria to be on the Paralympic program due to under-registration and lack of entries is the smallest since the establishment of the criteria as "widely practiced". Sport initiatives which have been successful include:

• Equity in allocation of country wildcards
• Emphasis on at-risk events for women and athletes with severe disabilities in allocation of sport wildcards
• Addition of viable events and disciplines for women
• Equitable allocation of slots by sport and nation
• Emphasis on increasing awareness of Sport and NPC leadership of issues related to women and sport.

Photo: Lieven Coudenys

Additionally, the IPC Executive Committee endorsed equity in solidarity funding and Regional Representatives have also highlighted the needs of women in sport. However, the overall percentage of women athletes remains low, only 25 per cent in Sydney. Currently, women have access to 15 sports/disciplines on the summer program while men have access to 20. Clearly, we have made some progress but we must strengthen our strategic partnerships to create significant change. The development and systematic implementation of policies of gender equity have begun to reverse the alarming decline of women in Paralympic Sport. However, true gender equity will require coordinated and systematic action by Sports, NPCs, Regions, IPC Management and Executive Committees, IPC Development Committee, and the support of the IPC staff.

Carol Mushett
IPC Technical Officer