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Women's Sport from 440 BC to 1998
"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
as the 20th century comes to a close.
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