2020 IOC Women and Sport Awards for an Outstanding Contribution to Promote the Advancement of Gender Equality

Deadline: 28 June 2019

Women, Men or Organisations are invited to apply for 2020 IOC Women and Sport Awards for making their remarkable contributions to the development, encouragement and reinforcement of women and girls’ participation in sport.

The IOC Women and Sport Awards (the “Awards”) are awarded annually to promote the advancement of gender equality in sport. They recognise outstanding achievements and contributions made to develop, encourage and strengthen the participation of women and girls at all levels in the sports world, in order to close the gender gap.

Introduced in 2000, the award highlights role models and change agents in the pursuit of gender equality. Six trophies are distributed each year, one for each of the five continents and one at world level. In 20 years of Awards, there have been 116 recipients from 65 different nations.

The winners’ work to promote gender equality through different projects is also supported with a grant to help them continue and extend their work.

Trophies

Six (6) Awards in the form of trophies are awarded each year as follows:

One at world level; and
One each for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Award Criteria

The Award may be granted in recognition of an outstanding contribution to promote the advancement of gender equality, such as:
- The participation of women and girls in sport and physical activities.
- Educating or raising awareness on gender issues.
- Creating an inclusive culture by challenging gender inequality within an organisation.
- Coaching women and girls in sport and physical activity.
- Supporting and coaching women in sports administrative and leadership structures.
- Fostering the inclusion of women in sport in the media.
- Acting as a role model and championing gender equality.
The following individuals and organisations are eligible to receive the IOC Women and Sport Awards:
- Individuals, such as:
  - a retired athlete (i.e. an athlete no longer involved in elite competitive sport)
  - an administrator
  - a coach
  - a journalist or writer
  - a sponsor
  - an academic
- Organisations, such as:
  - a National Olympic Committee (NOC)
  - an International Federation (IF)
  - a National Federation
  - a Continental Association of NOCs
  - a sports club
- Note: An active athlete, a team, an IOC Member or an IOC Women in Sport Commission member serving on the Award Committee will NOT be considered.