Paris 2024 - Inspiring women to be more active

One of the standouts from the 2024 Paris Olympics so far has been the prominence of women competing at the games. Paris 2024 Olympics: A new era for women in sport. For the first time, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will see an equal number of men and women competing. The Games organisers have also committed to a balanced coverage of all events, putting all athletes in the spotlight. 

It’s also pleasing to see that more women’s events and mixed events feature prominently.  

Cycling and triathlon have been competed over on the same courses and events such as the rugby sevens drew packed attendances for men and women’s competitions.  

There are still areas for improvement. For example, at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 only 13% of coaches were women, although there are early indications that numbers will increase in 2024. 

The organisation Women in Sport have created a medal table broken down by gender to track gender parity in medals by country and find out which nations are championing their female athletes. Paris 2024 the first gender equal Olympics

It has been a long haul since the inaugural Olympics in 1896 when only 2% of competitors were women, but this video gives some idea of progression: At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 1 out of every 2 athletes will be a women

Of course we tend to focus on those women who have excelled, perhaps looking no further than the GB’s golden girl Keely Hodgkinson or the amazing performances and comeback by Simone Biles, US gymnast. We know that athletes can inspire as role-models but equally facilities and culture need to develop to overcome barriers to women taking up sports and being active.  

So, of equal importance’ has been the shift, promoted by athletes such as rower Helen Glover, to ensure that lack of facilities or restricted culture cannot get in the way of females competing. Helen Glover is the world’s number-one female rower and a two-time Olympic champion; since her first Olympics in 2012 she has become a mum to three children, including twins 18 months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She was also Team GB’s joint flag bearer at the 2024 opening ceremony. At Paris 2024 she won silver in the Women’s four rowing competition and is now talking about competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Her lobbying has ensured that there is increased consideration of parenting roles in athlete preparation, and, for the first time, the Olympic village has a nursery. She has also been an advocate encouraging women to have the confidence to return to sport. As she comments: “Hopefully the biggest thing about these Games is how many women competitors are coming back after having children. Mothers going for Gold at the Paris Olympics and this story on athletes being able to breast feed at Paris 2024 Breast feeding athletes championing change

Another topic that is slowly gaining ground is discussion of menstruation in sport. Our very own Heather Watson was a ground breaker when she discussed the misalignment of her menstrual cycle with appearing in the Australian Open. Let's start talking openly about periods

That was ten years ago and Heather should take some pride that the Olympic organisers have named an official period product and ensured that complimentary period protection products will be available in Olympic Village toilets. There are also increasing examples of nations introducing period-proof underwear and clothing which will contribute to reducing barriers to women participating in sport. 

Perhaps the final word should go to Egypt’s Nada Hafez, who won her first match in the women’s individual fencing sabre competition. She was then knocked out in the next round, only to reveal that she was seven months pregnant. Egypt fencing champion Nada Hafez  

The Olympic Games is always inspirational, and Paris 2024 has so far been one of the best. However, the legacy of the Games is as important. One legacy must be that the high profile of women at these games will increase the upward trend of women and girls feeling inspired and empowered to be active in any way they choose. The whole community (in Guernsey as much as anywhere else) needs to be aware of the power of sport and physical activity and create safe, inclusive actions that enable girls and women to build on this positive experience.