Denis Coderre Announces Montreal will Host the World Conference on Women and Sport
MONTREAL, November 16, 2001 -- Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) Denis Coderre today announced that Montreal will host the next World Conference on Women and Sport from May 16 to 19, 2002. The Government of Canada will provide approximately $450,000 in funding towards the Conference.Approximately 500 delegates, from up to 70 countries, will participate in the Conference to discuss issues related to women in sport, to report on progress and to agree on future directions for the worldwide women in sport movement.
The Conference, taking place under the leadership of the International Working Group on Women and Sport, will be hosted by the Government of Canada.
"I am very pleased that the Government of Canada is hosting this important international conference in Montreal," stated Mr. Coderre. "The Conference will be a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in sport, to find solutions to common problems, to showcase Canada and to build a stronger Canadian movement for women in sport."
In addition to supporting the World Conference, the Government recently announced funding of $200,000 for two important Canadian initiatives that will follow the Conference: the development of a Canadian Strategy for Girls and Women through Physical Activity and Sport; and a National Conference on Women, Sport and Physical Activity, to be held in Hamilton, in November 2002.
The World Conference, whose theme is "Investing in Change," will feature prominent speakers in plenary sessions and a series of workshops on topics including Women in Coaching and Sport as a Tool for Cultural Understanding. The program will also include an evening of celebration highlighting the achievements of women who have created change for women worldwide in the area of sport. In conjunction with this conference, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity will hold a Skills Development Workshop, on May 16, 2002.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support activities, such as these, that highlight the leadership role our country has taken to ensure that the sport system truly reflects the diversity of our population," said Mr. Coderre. "We must take advantage of all forums and opportunities to promote and facilitate the participation of all Canadians in sport, whether solely for enjoyment, or in order to become the best in the world."
Information:
Nicole Beauchamp
Director of Communications
Office of the Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)
(819)994-9909
BACKGROUNDER
2002 WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND SPORT
-- In 1998, at the 2nd World Conference on Women and Sport in Windhoek, Namibia, the Minister of Canadian Heritage offered to host the next World Conference on Women and Sport, in Canada, in 2002. The offer was enthusiastically accepted by the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) and endorsed by the more than 400 delegates in Windhoek. An offer to host the next World Conference was put forward because it was felt that, if held in Canada, this conference could provide a stimulus to the Canadian women and sport movement.
-- The 2002 World Conference on Women and Sport will be held in Montreal, from May 16 to 19, 2002, at the Delta Centre-Ville Hotel. It is being organized under the leadership of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) and hosted by the Government of Canada. It follows those held in Brighton, England (1994) and Windhoek, Namibia (1998).
-- The International Working Group on Women and Sport is a coordinating body of governmental and non-governmental representatives. Its goal is to influence decision-makers responsible for developing opportunities for girls and women in sport throughout the world.
-- The upcoming IWG World Conference in Montreal will offer a unique opportunity for participants to share experience, strengthen international connections and stimulate action at local, national and international levels. The conference program has been designed to offer maximal interaction and the emphasis will be on practical experience and ways to support positive change.
-- The theme of the conference is "Investing in Change" and participants will explore the sub-themes of "Development through Sport" and "Changing the Culture and Systems of Sport". The program will also feature an evening of celebration highlighting the achievements of women in different areas of sport. The conference objectives are to assess progress over the past four years; create a forum for sharing knowledge, expertise and lessons learned; and provide the necessary tools and support to effect change.
-- The conference is for men and women who make decisions or influence policy related to women and sport at the national and international levels. These could include participants from governments and non-governmental organizations. Approximately 500 delegates from 70 countries are expected to attend the conference. The official languages of the conference are French, English and Spanish.
-- Canadian objectives:
-- A stronger Canadian network of women in sport, including a strong francophone network in Canada
-- Implementation of the Canadian Strategy
-- Strengthened development and links across the Americas
-- Increased awareness of Canadian Sport Policy as it relates to women and sport
-- The Canadian Women and Sport Strategy will be announced at the conference.
-- Promotional brochures are available from the IWG Secretariat, 15 Eddy Street, Hull, Quebec.
Tel: (819) 956-8022
-- Website http://www.iwg-gti.org
FACT SHEET
Canadian Legacy of the World Conference
Developing a Canadian Strategy for Girls and Women Through Physical Activity and Sport
Overall objectives:
-- Create acceptance of the benefits that sport and physical activity play in Canadian society
-- Entrench, as a social norm in Canada, the rights of, and positive attitudes towards, girls and women in sport and physical activity
Goals:
-- To increase public awareness of the benefits sport and physical activity can play in the development of girls and women
-- To increase the number of girls and women playing a leading role in sport and physical activity in Canada, as coaches, volunteers, administrators, officials, etc.
-- To increase the number of girls and women participating in sport and physical activity in Canada
-- To entrench equity as a social norm within Canada in the sport and physical activity communities
National Conference for Women and Sport and Physical Activity
Theme:
TAKING ACTION
Purpose:
-- To mobilize Canadians in the sport, physical activity, health and other sectors to take action within the Canadian Strategy for Girls and Women Through Physical Activity and Sport
Where: Hamilton, Ontario
When: November 2002
Target Audience:
For national, provincial and community leaders in the sport, physical activity, health and other sectors (e.g. education)
Key elements:
Action: discussion, brainstorming for solutions and practical ideas to put into practice
Best Practices: provide examples of best practices within Canada
Motivation: provide inspiration, role models
Future: be clear on where we want to go, our targets, etc.
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