Olympics: New Zealand earn IOC honour

Sarah Walker donated her London Olympic Games PEAK tracksuit to the Olympic Museum. Photo / Jason Dorday

The New Zealand Olympic Committee is to be internationally recognised for the work it does promoting women in sport.

Thomas Bach, the head of the International Olympic Committee, is due to present the Kiwi organisation with the World Trophy for Women in Sport at a gala dinner at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland later this morning.

The women in sport trophy is awarded every year to a person or organisation that has made a remarkable contribution to the development, encouragement and reinforcement of women's participation in sport or in the administrative structures of sport.

NZOC secretary general Kereyn Smith, who will accept the award on behalf of the organisation, said she was delighted to come from a nation where sport is playing a role in creating gender balance.

"We know that through sport women can both build and demonstrate the same qualities that also make great leaders - we have been working hard to strengthen and promote this link."

The NZOC has taken active steps to increase the number of women in decision-making and leadership positions through sport.

"We believe gender balance leads to better decision-making, better organisations and ultimately a better society," she said.

One of the key initiatives the NZOC has introduced is the Aspiring Olympic Leaders programme which supports female athletes like Sarah Cowley (heptathlon London 2012, high jump Glasgow 2014) and Cath Cheatley (cycling, Beijing 2008) transition from the field of play to leadership positions within the work place.

The NZOC also supports Sport NZ in monitoring gender balance on National Sporting Organisation boards and promoting the Women in Governance programme.

"Awareness leads to change," said Smith. "In 2008 50% of New Zealand sport boards met or exceeded the IOC target of 20%. Today that figure is 90%. On average there are 31% females on sport boards with a 2020 target of 40%."

A year-long research project on New Zealand women in the sports media in the build-up to Rio 2016 is also underway. Instigated by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and now supported by the IOC, Smith says she hopes this research can be rolled out internationally.

New Zealand Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker (BMX) is also in Lausanne for the awards ceremony and earlier today she donated her London Olympic Games PEAK tracksuit to the Olympic Museum and spoke to a group of disadvantaged youths about her experiences in sport.

This is the first time the IOC Women in Sport award has been presented to a New Zealand organisation or individual. In addition, the presentation to the NZOC marks the first time a National Olympic Committee has won the prestigious award.

Australian Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman will also be honoured at the ceremony with a Continental Award for her work in Oceania.

NZOC women in sport initiatives
* Launched the Aspiring Olympic Leaders programme, which supports female athletes transition from the field of play to leadership positions within the work place.
* The NZOC also supports Sport NZ in monitoring gender balance on National Sporting Organisation boards and promoting the women in governance programme.
* The organisation has just embarked on a year-long research project analysing media coverage of female athletes in the build-up to Rio 2016. The project has received the backing of the International Olympic Committee.