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Women's Sport from 440 BC to Present

"The solemn periodic manifestation of male sport based on internationalism, on loyalty as a means, on arts as a background and the applause of women as a recompense." -- Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games.

Since Baron de Coubertin uttered those words in the late 1890's, the world has changed almost beyond recognition. Instead of merely applauding the achievements of others, women now wish to share the spotlight.

Introduction

Consider that no women took part in the first modern Games in 1896. Today the balance remains weighted in favour of men, but it is tilting. At the XXVIth Games in Atlanta,   for example, 97 of the 271 events were open to women, with 11 contested by both genders; 3,626 of the 10,629 athletes were women.  Of the 307 Canadian athletes who competed in Atlanta, 154 were women and 153 were men,making this the first Canadian Olympic team ever to consist of more women than men, an impressive shift in a short time.

The movement towards this statistical improvement has been slow and has by no means been a certainty. Many barriers to full participation remain on the world stage, although Canada can point to a measure of progress and some inspiring milestones.

 

CAAWS’ 30th anniversary

2011 marks CAAWS’ 30th anniversary. To celebrate this landmark achievement, every month we are showcasing key milestones, and the women behind them, that have contributed to CAAWS’ vision of an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders. Profiles.

The Founding Mothers of CAAWS

Betty Baxter, Ottawa Micheline LeGuillou, Montreal
Tom Bedecki, Ottawa Pam Lewis, Ottawa
Wendy Bedingfield, Edmonton Mary Lyons, Downsview, Ont.
Carole Bishop, Vancouver Shirley Mardsen, Toronto
Lyse Blanchard, Ottawa Suzanne Mason, Fredericton
Peggy Brown, Ottawa Rose Mercier, Ottawa
Elizabeth Chard, Halifax Diane Palmason, Ottawa
Monique Charlebois, Montreal Anne Popma, Burnaby, B.C.
Patricia Cormie, Whitehorse Joan Rapsavage, Hamilton, Ont.
Muriel Duckworth, Halifax Jane Rattray, St. John’s
Laurel Goodacre, Red Deer, Alta. Dorothy Richardson, Edmonton
Ann Hall, Edmonton Sandy Straw, Hamilton, Ont.
Cheryl Hassen, Ottawa Nancy Theberge, Waterloo
Jo Hauser, Ottawa Susan Vail, Ottawa
Abby Hoffman, Toronto Penny Werthner, Ottawa
Mary Keyes, Hamilton, Ont. Nancy Wood, Ottawa
Kathy Lane, Toronto Pat Lawson, Saskatoon

Marion Lay, Victoria

Sandra Kirby, Winnipeg

 

 

Milestones
Profiling Women
Women's Sport History
Past Olympic Medallists
quotable quotes
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and l - Unknown
Just the stats

TSN's highest-rated Women’s World’s hockey game was the 2000 final, which had an audience of 427,000. Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime.

Most Influential Women
resources
 
 

Canadian Association for the Advancement of
Women and Sport and Physical Activity

N202 - 801 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa, ON, Canada
K1N 6N5
Phone: 613-562-5667
Fax: 613-562-5668
Email: caaws@caaws.ca



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