SIGA
Just a quarter of major global sports federations led by women - SIGA research
At its Summit on Female Leadership in Sport this week, SIGA revealed the results of recent research into female representation in leading sports governing bodies.
Only around a quarter of the globe’s major international sports federations are led by women, according to recent research carried out by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA).
Only three female chairs at top sports federations
In a survey of 31 of the world’s largest federations, SIGA found that just 26.9% are chaired by a woman. They are Annika Sörenstam of the the International Golf Federation, Petra Sörling of the International Table Tennis Federation and Marisol Casado of World Triathlon.
SIGA revealed the results of its research at its annual Summit on Female Leadership in Sport, which was held in New York on Tuesday.
SIGA chief calls for equal opportunities for female leaders
“We have seen some advocating that there should be an ideal of 30%,” SIGA CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros said at the event. “I disagree completely. There should be no barriers or if there is any criteria, then let it be 50/50. That is fair, but this is where we are.
“We only have 23 women out of those 31 international sports federations who are vice-presidents, and five of them are secretary generals. Only three are chaired by women.
“My criteria is not how many women are practising sport. That is relevant, but I want to see women having equal opportunities to sit where the decisions are made, to assume their responsibility, their leadership in equal standing, without any relevance for social background, for ethnicity, for any other artificial factor.”
Macedo de Medeiros did note, however, that the current ratio of female chairs at international sporting governing bodies represents an increase on 2021, when it stood at 17.8%.
SIGA promoting integrity in sport
Founded in 2017, SIGA is a non-profit organisation that works with stakeholders from across the sporting world to safeguard integrity and good governance in the industry. AS is a proud media partner of the body.