Women - Get Involved!

The New Zealand Olympic committee is developing a mentoring programme and support service to help get more women into positions of influence in New Zealand sport.   While more than 90% of all women and girls in New Zealand take part in some form of physical activity, the management and administration of sport is, on the whole, undertaken by men.   Fifty percent of New Zealand Olympic sports have less than 20% female participation on their boards. Even sports that attract equal numbers of female / male participants such as triathlon and rowing do not have adequate female representation.   One of the members of the team managing the project to get more women involved is former NZOC Board member and International Squash Federation member Susie Simcock.  "Having women and men both represented at executive level is highly beneficial. Diversity leads to better decision-making and that's got to be good." "With the right support and direction playing a role at a community level can lead on to a management role within a national organization and, ultimately, on to a continental or international federation."