6 February 2009 - 5:05Women’s Participation in the Olympics

A look at last year's 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the ascent of women leading up to the games: The record breaking participation of women in the 2008 Olympic Games was the product of more than a century of progress of women in sports. When Barron Pierre de Coubertin of France proposed a revival of the Olympic Games in the 1890s the world Physical Cycle was near its Peak and the world Emotional Cycle influencing women's issues was near the bottom. Both Pierre du Coubertin and tthe International Olympic Committee (IOC) opposed the participation of women. Although women were excluded from the 1896 Olympics, nineteen women became the first female participants in the 1900 Games in Paris. The number of women in subsequent Olympic Games steadily increased and women took Gold Medals in various events. Title IX of the USA Education Act of 1972 helped decrease discrimination to an extent, ruling that “No person…shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.” In 1991, IOC members decided that sport introduced for the Olympic program had to include both men’s and women’s events. The Olympic Charter received a new rule in 1994 that ordered the IOC to promote women in sports at all levels and act with “strict application of the principle of equality of men and women.” In 1995 IOC created a “Women and Sport” group to advise them how to promote this equality. The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games had almost two female athletes for every three male athletes, which was a record ratio, and 44% of the events were open to women.¹