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The first Olympic Games to feature female athletes
The Paris, France Summer Olympic games was the first ever to feature female athletes with twenty-two competing out of a total 997 athletes. The twenty-two women competed in five different categories: equestrian, tennis, golf, sailing, and croquet. -
Women's tennis and golf were removed
At the 1904 St. Louis Summer olympics, women's tennis and golf were both removed from the program, ultimately causing only six female athletes to participate in total. -
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These sports became open to women's participation from 1904-1928
1904 - Archery
1908 - Skating and tennis
1912 - Aquatic events
1928 - Athletics and gymnastics -
Women's Olympic Participation Increased to Nearly 10%
Although women were allowed to participate in more events during the Olympics, they were still criticized for being too weak which was demonstrated by the events of the 800 meter race. The 6 women who participated were mocked by the media for being too exhausted to finish the race or that they collapsed after the event. The idea that the distance was too great for the women caused the event to be dropped from the Olympics and it was reintroduced in 1960. -
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These sports became open to women's participation from 1936-1952
1936 - Skiing
1948 - Canoe-Kayak
1952 - Equestrian -
20% of Participants During the Winter Olympic Games Were Women
Give the recent addition of skiing to the games and an increased acceptance of women's involvement within sport, the Winter Olympic Games of 1960 saw that women made up 20% of the active participants. This percentage although small, demonstrated a gradual progression towards an upward trend of women within athletics. -
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These sports became open to women's participation from 1964-1976
1964 - Volleyball and luge
1976 - Rowing, basketball, and handball -
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These sports became open to women's participation from 1980-1988
1980 - Hockey
1984 - Shooting and cycling
1988 - Tennis, table tennis, and sailing -
Two Women Became the First Members of the IOC
Ms. Flor Isava-Fonseca and Ms. Pirjo Haeggman were nominated to positions on the International Olympic Committee. Despite being just two bodies on a board dominated by men, to hold such a title when women were barley being accepted in the world of sports made major progress in the industry. -
Women Move up to the IOC Executive Board
Ms. Flor Isava Fonseca moved her way up from a member of the IOC to the first woman to be elected on to the IOC Executive Board. This advancement in the career of Ms. Flor Isava Fonseca noted the duality for women to make an impact on both the field and in the office of sports. To be promoted to the highest tier on the ladder of an organization demonstrated the ability for women to know no limits when it came to equality within athletics. -
All Sports Within the Olympic Program Required A Women's Event
The International Olympic Committee made an executive decision that for any new Olympic sport to be added to the programs list, it is required to have both a women's and men's event within the same sport. This move on behalf of the IOC highlights the push and demand for higher equality within the Olympic Games. Although not accepted by all, the decision set a precedent that what is for men must be for women. -
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These sports became open to women's participation from 1992-1998
1992 - Badminton, judo and biathlon
1996 - Football and softball
1998 - Curling and ice hockey -
The IOC Established a Women and Sport Working Group
In 1995 the IOC established a Women and Sport Working group which became a fully- fledged Commission in 2004. They are tasked with encouraging women’s participation in the Olympic Games and in sport in general, getting more women into sports leadership positions, raising awareness and spreading information. -
1st IOC World Conference on Women and Sport
This conference was a huge advancement for women in the Olympics. The IOC welcomed the cooperation between sectors of the sports community and government, in promoting issues relative to women in sport. It recalled that the aim of the Olympic Movement was to build a peaceful and better world through sport without discrimination. They recognized that the Olympic ideal can't be fully realized without equality for women. -
First Woman to Occupy Position as Vice President of the IOC
In 1997, Anita L. Defrantz became the first female vice president in the IOC's 103 year history. Throughout her career she made it her goal to stay committed to the rights of athletes and worked hard to keep international sports free from politics. -
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These sports became open to women's participation from 2000-2012
2000 - Weightlifting, modern pentathlon, taekwondo and triathlon
2002 - Bobsleigh
2004 - Wrestling
2006 - Golf and rugby
2012 - Boxing -
First Time Four Women Became Members of the IOC Executive Board
In 2013, four women became members of the IOC
Executive Board. The four women are Nawal El Moutawakel, Gunilla
Lindberg, Claudia Bokel and Anita L. DeFrantz. They make up 26.6% of the board and are chairing commissions. -
Women's participation climbed to 40%
Given the increase in women of the IOC's members in Executive Positions, there was a clear push to make gender balance a top priority. The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games saw female participation climb to 40%, the highest it has seen to date. This incline has demonstrated the progression of gender balance within the games, and shows how close we are to a complete gender balance between athletes. -
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is projected to reach 48.8% in women's participation
In the 2020 Olympics, the IOC is working hard to make it the most gender balanced games in Olympics history. Adding 5 new events; softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing, the Games will a new dynamic with excitingly new sports alongside boosting female participation. -
Women's monobob along with 4 mixed team sports will be introduced in Beijing
In 2018, the IOC announced five additional sporting events that will increase women's inclusion. Each sport will allow more female athletes to compete.
