Pursuit of gender equality at Paris 2024

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be the first Olympic Games where two of the three primary roles in the sailing event will be held by female officials. Pinar Coskuner Genç (TUR) has been appointed Principal Race Officer and Ana Sanchez Del Campo Ferrer (ESP), currently the Chair of the Racing Rules Committee, will Chair the International Jury in 2024.

Pinar Coskuner Genç

Each will lead a team responsible for organizing and officiating the racing of each Olympic Event alongside a team of additional International Race Officers to ensure a fair competition for all participants.

Both Genc and Sánchez del Campo are vastly experienced and well respected within the sport and have welcomed the moves by the International Olympic Committee and World Sailing to address the imbalance at the Games, both in terms of athletes and officials.

“The focus should not be on gender, but on the person,” said Genc. “Life is shared between men and women and so should sailing.”

The Paris 2024 Games is set to be the first to achieve a 50-50 split between male and female athletes, building on the progress made at both Rio 2016 (47.5%) and Tokyo 2020 (48.8%) – and a significant improvement on Atlanta 1996, which recorded just 34% female participation.

Sánchez del Campo agrees, explaining: “I think the sport in general is an optimal environment to eliminate differences and behaviors that prevent inclusion.

Ana Sanchez Del Campo Ferrer

“A sailing event, where people from different parts of the globe meet together for several days and share time and efforts and experiences is the perfect scenario to show those who still have some resistance that the world is walking in the opposite direction.”

World Sailing has made gender equity and inclusivity a priority and to achieve this goal for Paris 2024 would be a huge step forward for the sport, especially ahead of the LA28 Games and the campaign to regaining para sailing’s place at the Paralympic Games.

“Equality in sport, and the world, is achievable and only requires us to believe it,” said Genc. “Such a world would emphasize the similarities and focus on the diversity which makes us equal human beings. Role models should be encouraged and their stories told to inspire more women to dare.”

Sánchez del Campo adds, “I am sure there are still areas where more work is necessary but, in general, my feeling is that the sailing family should be proud of the goals we have all achieved in terms of inclusivity after years of open support to women.

“Of course, we all need to keep on working I order to make sailing attractive and safe for all, but it has to be a compromise of all bodies involved, from the top international bodies to the national federations, from the national teams to the local club fleets. Women in the sport will attract more women to the sport. I think it should be is as simple as that.”

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Program:
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFoil
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFoil
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Venue: Marseille, France
Dates: July 26-August 11

Details: https://www.paris2024.org/en/the-olympic-games-paris-2024/