In a significant move toward greater gender equality, World Athletics, the governing body for the track and field sports, has announced that all national track and field federations must ensure their executive boards are composed of at least 40% women by 2029.
This announcement is part of the global governing body’s expanded gender leadership strategy, released on Tuesday. The initiative follows a major milestone achieved in 2023, when World Athletics reached full gender parity on its ruling council—a first in the organization’s history.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized the importance of continuing to drive change throughout the sport.
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“While there are still challenges in increasing the number of female coaches, referees, and administrators, our commitment to equality and opportunity is unwavering,” Coe said. “We want to embed lasting change across the entire athletics community.”
The updated strategy outlines a clear path toward empowering more women in leadership and decision-making positions within the sport. Coe highlighted the organization’s progress and reiterated its ongoing dedication to inclusivity.
“I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come,” he said. “Our gender-balanced council is just the beginning. This new strategy ensures that women are not only included but are influential at every level of the sport.”
The move sets a precedent in international athletics and positions World Athletics as a leader in promoting diversity and gender representation within sports governance.
Growing representation of women in sports on and off field
The move by the World Athletics comes a few days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had its first-ever female president, Kirsty Coventry.
Coventry, Zimbabwe’s most successful Olympian, will take over from her predecessor Thomas Bach on June 23. The President of the IOC is considered the most powerful person in world of sports. Interestingly, Coventry had overcome the challenge mounted by Coe during the IOC presidential election. Coventry, Coe and five other candidates were vying for the top job.
Shortly after Coventry’s election as the IOC President, the IOC announced that the next edition of the Olympics, the 2028 Los Angles Games, will have more women than men. The LA 2028 Games will also have the provision of every team sport having at least the same number of women’s teams as men’s teams. Accordingly 5,655 women and 5,543 men are set to compete at the Los Angles Olympics.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
