Manama, Bahrain, October 27, 2022: A high-level panel of international sports officials have been lined up for the two-day Olympic Council of Asia Gender Equity Seminar which gets underway in the Bahrain capital Manama on Sunday, October 30.
The ground-breaking seminar on October 30-31, which is hosted by the Bahrain Olympic Committee under the organisational supervision of the Olympic Council of Asia, will see 42 Asian National Olympic Committees sending senior representatives as the OCA pushes its vibrant agenda for more female participation in sports in the region.
The opening remarks will be from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who will address delegates at The Art Hotel and Resort in Manama via video message.
This will be followed by messages from Acting OCA President Raja Randhir Singh, H.H. Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Vice President of the Supreme Council of Youth & Sport Authority and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, and Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa, Chair of the OCA Gender Equity Committee.
Also attending the seminar are OCA Director General and FINA President Husain Al Musallam; Gunilla Lindberg, Secretary General of the Association of National Olympic Committees; and HRH Princess Reham Bint Saif Al-Islam bin Saud, Director of Public Relations, Saudi Arabian Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
An elite list of speakers and panellists from across a wide spectrum – from athletes to top administrators - have been lined up to underline the importance of gender equity in sports.
Along with Sheikha Hayat, the list includes Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, IOC Executive Board member and ANOC Executive Council member; legendary gymnast Oksana Chusovitina; HRH Prince Faisal bin Al-Hussein, IOC and OCA Executive Board member; Elisa Fernandez Saenz, country representative (Vietnam) United Nations Women; Mamadou Sow, Head of Regional Delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross; Dr. Payoshni Mitra, CEO, Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport; Nese Gundogan, Secretary General, Turkish Olympic Committee; Manisha Malhotra, Head of Sports Excellence and Scouting, JSW Sports (India); Marie Sallois, Director Corporate & Sustainable Development, IOC; Donia Abdelwahed, Science Programme Officer, UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen.
Among the varied workshops and topics of discussion are Women Participation and Representation; Best Practices to Enhance Gender Equality; and Grass Roots Strategies.
