Women's participation in sport is a human right - also in Africa

Allow me on behalf of the women in sport of Africa, and Namibia in particular, to take this opportunity to thank the organizers of this Conference for extending an invitation to our organization The African Women in Sport Association (AWISA), as this gesture will afford us a rare opportunity of presenting our experiences of Reaching Out For Change and the Challenges of change in Africa to the media professionals of the sports society, and to express our views on whether is sport for men only.

Can sport be for men only? The answer is an emphatic NO.

Even long before Baron Pierre de Coubertin came with his undemocratic ideas of excluding women from sport, our great, great grandmothers, as young girls were involved in their own type of sport. They used to race to the river with clay pots balanced on their heads to draw water, the one who returns first with less spilled water was considered the winner and would be rewarded with bright red and white ankle, waist, and neck beads.

This is a clear indication that women have always been involved in various sports activities, except, just like most of our history, these activities were not recorded, hence not recognized.

Mr Chairman, sport is a human right for us all, the media must ensure that sport is enjoyed by both women and men. The media must assume the role of a sports policeman in order to eradicate the unjust practices that are denying women their rightful place in the community of sport. We believe that the media has the skills and the powers of exposing corruption that is threatening the very existence of sport today, and is capable of promoting equality and promotion of leadership for women, subsequently, regain the lost integrity of sport.

The issue of women's participation in sport is a human rights issue and is also reflected in the Olympic Charter not as a favour but as a right.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am not about to bore you with quoting the numerous resolutions passed by the United Nations, the OAU, and other forums on gender issues, most of which are gathering dust on the shelves and not being translated into action. I am here primarily to explain to this gathering what we are doing, under very difficult conditions, to implement some of these dust accumulating resolutions and seek your support in our endeavours.

I come from a background where sport to this day and time is still subjugated by culture, tradition, and religion, which prevents women from fully flourishing in sport, even if they are the driving force of economic and social development of Africa. We are aware that men have been involved in organized sport since 1896, while women only started in 1900. We are currently playing catch-up in this intriguing world of sport, particularly in the leadership area. The billion-dollar question is what role can the media play in the promotion of women in sport?

Women in the Sport Leadership? In simplified terms, I would like to define leadership as a process which involves the capacity to bring out the best in those you are leading and to create a sporting culture which accommodates differences and empowers others. Thus making it a non-static skill.

Surely, if we look around us hard enough in our countries, we will find many women who fit this profile. We are aware of the fact that men and women often work from a different value base, i.e. our approach to decision-making, set of principles etc. Understandably so, because these differences are due to different life experiences between men and women; hence girls need female role models as coaches and administrators.

Women's participation in sport? There has been a notable increase in participation of girls in various sporting disciplines since 1900. We have also noticed an increase in the number of medals being won by women in Africa.  Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for women leadership development, and yet this is an important area which can improve the status of women in terms of policy changes.

Why is this so? Are men afraid of loosing their power and position they have enjoyed all these years? There is nothing to be worried about, all we are asking for is to work together and have our basic rights respected.

Sport is a cultural activity, which - if practiced equitably - can offer an opportunity of self-expression, personal achievement, and good health. Hence we find it imperative that we develop a sporting culture that will enable women and girls to fully participate in sport. The media, being what it is and stand for, can play an immense role in the equality building at all levels.

The five Themes of this Conference are captivating, because they cover the BEST and the WORST of the sport from the perspective of one of the most important wing of our society - the media. If at the end of this conference, we come even close to the answer of how can we regain the integrity of sport and the role the media can play in order to regain this lost integrity, then, there is hope for the future of sport in the world.

The background for The African Women in Sport Association
At the end of the First World Brighton Conference on Women, Sport, and the Challenge of Change from 5th - 8th May 1994, the African representatives met under the leadership of Honorable Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, the then Minister of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Namibia, and created a taskforce. The aim was to ensure that full participation and equality is achieved in Africa,

This taskforce was given the mandate to produce an organization, which would provide a forum for the development of women in sport throughout Africa.

It was agreed that the focus of this organization would be primarily to establish an international network in Africa for women to bring about the necessary changes with regard to:

• the participation of women in sports activities;
  
  
• the development t of women as sport coaches;
  
  
• the development of women as sports leaders and decision makers at national and international Level;
  
  
• In order to achieve gender equity, in addition, the network would provide an opportunity to exchange best practice methods for mutual benefits.
  

The Taskforce came-up with the following Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted;

• There is a need for the creation of a body, which is a version of other women in sport Associations in the world but unique to Africa;
  
  
• The Assembly delegated full powers to Hon. Iivula-Ithana to see to the establishment of Zonal and National Committees for Women in Sport in Africa;
  
  
• The delegates felt the need to have the Hon. Minister to be the Convener of AWISA, for one year and be assisted by Dr. D. Cubagee of Ghana and Mrs. Myrna Lapierre of Mauritius
  
  
• To organize a congress before or after the All Africa Games which were to be hosted by Zimbabwe, in Harare, in 1995;
  
  
  • AWISA should be under the umbrella of the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA), and should seek organizational assistance and support of the (SCSA) for the setting-up of the Association.
    

This notable achievement was announced to the international delegates by the Hon. Minister at the Conference session on International Strategies, and was enthusiastically received.

After the conference of 1994, the Taskforce organized a Constitutional seminar on drafting of the constitution in Namibia, 1995.

In May 1998, prior to the Second World Conference on Women and Sport held in Namibia, the Constitution of the new organization was adopted and elections held.

Hon. Iivula-Ithana, now the former Minister of Youth and Sport, now the Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation was elected the First President of AWISA, and Dr. D. Cubagee of Ghana, the Vice President, Ms. Theresa Borge of Angola as the Treasurer, and the Secretary General, Carol Garoes of Namibia.

After May 1998, there was no turning back for the women of Africa in development of women in sport. Inspired by seemingly insurmountable difficulties encountered, we made and are still making progress.

The achievements of The African Women in Sport Association
Africa is divided in seven sporting zones under the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA). AWISA has established the same structure represented by Zonal Directors.

- we have established a Secretariat in Windhoek, Namibia, though still struggling to get sponsorship for office equipment, i.e. computers, printers, fax machines, etc., but have office space;

- In 1998 the Association was admitted to the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa as a full member. We consider this a great achievement as it is now affording us an opportunity to influence change of policies in the highest body of sport in Africa. We are also represented on the Council of Ministers of Sport in Africa.

- In 1999, during the All Africa Games, in Johannesburg, we succeeded in stopping the gender verification which targeted women athletes only;

- XXXVII Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Africa was for the first time represented by three women Chef de Missions, two from Zone six and one from Zone five, which indicated a slight improvement in the leadership development. I will however, be quick to point out that a lot still remains to be done to improve status of women leadership in sport in Africa;

Most of our governments in Africa have policies on paper to improve the status of women in sport, the media must now find out when are they going to translate theory into practice.

The obstacles to getting more women into sport
Obstacles are too numerous to tabulate. Most if not all, are culturally related.

Africa segregates against women and girls in all activities of our societies, including sport. For instance there is a strict dress code which virtually prevents the participation of women in sport activities, particularly in our rural areas where cultural norms are strictly enforced.

Women are under-represented in all spheres of life. This includes sports media where sport journalism is male dominated resulting in biased reporting of women's sport. The language used is also gender biased. i.e. women soccer tournament as opposed to soccer tournament when it is the men's game.

Finance is one of the major obstacles in promoting womens sport activities in the whole of Africa. It is extremely difficulty to develop women's sport because it is not sufficiently promoted/covered by the media. As a result most sponsors are not willing to sponsor women's sport activities. If they do, sponsor use what remains from the mens sponsorship.

Communication: In spite of the modern technology used for communication in the world today, Africa is still lagging behind, because we simply cannot afford to spend on sport, as sport is not priority on our national budgets, particularly womens sport. This makes communication more difficult in the vast continent of Africa.

Physical Education: There are very few physical education teachers in our schools in Africa which results in the subject not being taught in most schools and girls missing out in the very important development of self-esteem, improvement of health, enhancement of academic performance, and general empowerment which is a necessity towards their success in sport.

The media should hold sport bodies accountable
The IOC has done a commendable job by introducing the quota system and deadlines for women development in leadership and participation by NOCs. 10% by the year 2000 and 20% by the year 2005. This approach has put pressure on NOCs to meet those deadlines, hence today we can report some progress in the leadership development.

In spite of the early start advantage men have over women in sport, sport must not be thought of as men's domain. We need to create a more woman-friendly atmosphere for women to excel. Remember, investment in women sport pays higher returns. It has social benefits, family life benefits, peace, and international success.

Finally, I would like to reiterate the words of the previous speaker who urges journalists to take a close look behind the faces of the organisations that rule our lives.

Find out from your SCSA zone what have they done to improve the status of women since AWISAs admission to the SCSA as a full member? Find out what are the NOCs doing for women in their countries with the financial and the training assistance provided by IOC, through the Solidarity Committee for the development of women in sport?

Let the media make these bodies accountable. This approach will assist in the improving of status of women in Africa, reduce corruption and end the legacy of Pierre de Coubertin and restore integrity in sport.

We are in it together. Together we can regain sporting integrity. I thank you for your attention.