Manama, Bahrain, October 30, 2022: IOC and OCA Executive Board Member Prince Faisal bin Al-Hussein of Jordan wants Asian National Olympic Committees to walk the talk of gender equity by having a female official as either the Chef de Mission or the Deputy Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Prince Faisal, who is also the President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, made this call for equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities on the opening day of the trailblazing OCA Gender Equity Seminar in Manama, Bahrain.
“I don’t want to go to Paris in 2024 for the Olympics and see Asian NOCs have men in both Chef de Mission and Deputy Chef de Mission positions,” Prince Faisal said on the opening day of the seminar on Sunday, October 30.
The terrific turnout of representatives from 42 NOCs in Manama had earlier heard Acting OCA President Raja Randhir Singh give a strong assurance that the OCA will support NOCs in promoting and empowering women in the sport movement.
“I can assure you that no one, no NOC, will be left behind in our efforts to empower women and to create a level playing field,” Mr. Randhir Singh promised.
The ground-breaking seminar had begun with participants in the packed ballroom at The Art Hotel and Resort in Manama listening to an uplifting video message from International Olympic Committee President Dr. Thomas Bach.
The IOC chief in a five-minute message praised the OCA for leading by example and showing a strong commitment to advancing gender equity in Asia.
“Gender equality does not just magically happen. To make progress we need a targeted strategy, liberal policies and institutional commitment. This is why I’m pleased to see how OCA through its Gender Equity Committee is already implementing the right strategies and policies,” Bach noted.
In her opening address, chair of the OCA’s Gender Equity Committee, Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa underlined the importance of education, identifying it as a key factor in empowering women in the bid for gender equity in sports.
“When we speak about gender equity in sport, we must speak about education and awareness which are the two key components in achieving these goals at all levels from grassroots to elite sports,” Sheikha Hayat said.
A high-level panel of experts from diverse fields, among them IOC Executive Board Member Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, United Nations country representative (Vietnam) Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Turkish Olympic Secretary General Nese Gundogan, and legendary gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, were among the speakers who made presentations.
The OCA’s Head of Athletes Development Department & Special Projects, Tony Tarraf, acted as moderator with participants, mostly women, engaging in group discussions and making presentations themselves.
The seminar will conclude on Monday, October 31.
