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At WBC, the spirit of competition and celebration is soaring as the Summer Olympics in Paris unfold. While we cheer on our favorite athletes, we are all witnesses to a historic milestone – for the first time, the Olympics have achieved gender equity – with one woman competing for every man, an achievement we can all celebrate.

Among the Notable Milestones on the Field of Play at Paris 2024:

  • A more equally represented sports program, with 28 out of 32 sports reaching full gender equity.
  • A more equal number of medal events, with 152 women’s events to the 157 men’s events, and 20 mixed-gender events. For the first time, more than half of all medal events at Paris 2024 are open to women athletes.

This progress didn’t happen by chance. It is the result of a strong and focused commitment by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Thanks to this intentional effort, we are witnessing the thrill of men and women sharing an equal spotlight as Olympians.

On these historic milestones over gender equity on the field of play, IOC Corporate and Sustainable Development Director Marie Sallois stated, “This is the result of our strategic roadmap – Olympic Agenda 2020, which clearly positioned gender equality as a priority on and off the field of play. It’s a team effort from the entire Olympic Movement – men and women, because gender equality is a team sport.”

Equal play across all sports is crucial for ensuring gender equity. However, gaps still remain in the profession of sport – from coaching, sports governance, and broadcasting. The IOC has recommitted to addressing these issues through programs that promote women’s leadership and visibility throughout the Olympics and Women Business Collaborative applauds these continued efforts. We are beginning to see progress and I anticipate we will see more women judges, referees, and coaches as a result of these initiatives.

As demonstrated by the IOC, gender equity is good for the business of sports. Despite the pushback we have seen in the past year, equity in sports has proven not to dilute value. Instead, it sets world records, inspires the next generation Olympians, and fosters sportsmanship and brings community together in the power of a common, shared identity.

At WBC, we believe that equity builds business leaders and we are excited about our upcoming events in September that will continue to emphasize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion for women in business, including the 2nd Annual Women’s Capital Summit and the 5th Action for Impact (A4I) Annual Summit.

WBC invites you to join us this September as we continue to make Olympic strides in the fight for equal position, pay, and power for all women.

  • Women’s Capital Summit Taking place in New York City on September 4th and 5th, this event is designed to provide women entrepreneurs with tools and insights. Attendees will gain access to investors, receiving feedback and opportunities from those committed to investing in women. Historically, women and men have not shared a level playing field in gaining access to capital. WBC aims to change that!
  • Action for Impact Summit, On September 25th, we will celebrate the power of uniting women in business at our dynamic virtual event. Thousands of women will join for a full day of transformative discussions and inspirational keynote speakers, championing diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplaces. We’ll honor remarkable CEOs and trailblazers who are ensuring gender equity across business.

As summer draws to a close, we turn our attention to the busy fall season ahead and look forward to you joining WBC and all our partners as we continue to embrace the excitement that September will bring.

Wishing you all a safe and happy August.

Gwen

Author

  • Gwen K. Young

    Gwen K. Young is the CEO of the Women Business Collaborative. She is also a Visiting Scholar at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University and former Director of the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Wilson Center. She is an Advisor to Concordia. Ms. Young has worked across the globe to promote economic development, good governance and peace. She has developed strategy, programming and advocacy in the areas of humanitarian policy, international affairs and international development. This includes developing public private partnerships focused on public health, agriculture, gender equality, and access to finance. Further, Ms. Young has advocated for and published on international criminal law and designed SGBV guidelines. As an attorney, Ms. Young has worked as a professional advocate for women and human rights in corporate law settings, with the ICTY and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. Her career has encompassed a comprehensive array of international organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Rescue Committee, and the Harvard Institute for International Development. An alumna of Smith College, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the University of California Davis, School of Law, Ms. Young has pursued a career of international public service focused on humanitarian relief, international development, and human rights starting with gender equality and equity.

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