Leading with the news that the World Athletics Council aims to have at least one female vice president in 2023, the organisation has also stated its aim of achieving 40% female representation this year. Add to this the goal that the 214 member federations across the globe are to implement individual safeguarding policies for female athletes by end of 2023, and we can see that some steps are being taken to recognise the need to protect female athletes.
These moves are all welcome, and very long overdue, but aspiring to just one female vice president reflects how far we still have to journey along the path to true gender equality in our sport. Rather than 40% representation, shouldn’t 50% – true equality – be the minimum goal? Rather than improving gender equality to close the gender gap, we call for more assurances to achieve gender equality and eliminate the gap altogether.