Breaking Barriers: Women’s Advancements in Sports Leadership, but Gender Bias Still Linger

Women are making strides in the sports world, taking on leadership roles and addressing important issues such as pay gaps, violence, and abuse. However, barriers and gender bias still exist. According to a 2023 survey by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance, only 26.9% of executive positions in international sport federations are held by women, with only three out of 31 International Sports Federations surveyed having women in leadership roles. The International Olympic Committee has made progress towards gender equality, with 41% of its members being female and more diversity in age and regional representation. Gender-equal representation on IOC commissions was achieved in 2022, marking a historic high and a 100% increase since 2013. The World Athletics Council has also seen growth in the number of women members, reaching gender parity ahead of schedule and setting goals to increase the number of female coaches by 2025. However, despite these advancements, a gender gap still exists among coaches and leadership roles within athletes’ entourages. Efforts are being made to increase the representation of women in leadership roles such as Chef de Mission, Technical Official, and coach. While progress is being made, true gender equality is still a work in progress.