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OCEANIA JUDY OTTO (PALAU) As President of the Palau Swimming Association and a member of the Palau Women and Sports Commission, Judy Otto has played a key role in advocating women’s sports participation within the country. One of her most signifi cant initiatives has been the development of a water aerobics programme, which includes after-work sessions to encourage water-based physical activity for women. She has also developed a learn-to-swim programme offered year-round at the national swimming pool and through outreach to schools and rural communities. In her role as President of the Palau Swimming Association, she has encouraged women to take an active role in swimming development as instructors, technical offi cials and board members. Today, the association’s board is 70-80 per cent female. ‘EACH WINNER HAS SHOWN WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGH SPORT’ LYDIA NSEKERA, IOC WOMEN IN SPORT COMMISSION CHAIR AFRICA LIDÉ ANNE OUOBA ZOMA (BURKINA FASO) Lidé Anne Ouoba Zoma was one of the fi rst women in Burkina Faso to compete in long-distance running, representing her country in numerous international championships, and has dedicated her life to Burkinabe athletics as an athlete, leader, coach and promoter. One of her main goals has been contributing to reducing the barriers that prevent girls from participating in sport. It was for this reason that she established the Béogbiiga (Children of Tomorrow) Association, which is committed to promoting children – particularly young girls – through sport competitions and scholarships. She was instrumental in the creation of the Women and Sport Commission within the Burkina Athletics Federation in the 1990s, setting a clear example for other National Federations to follow. AMERICAS DR PATRICIA SANGENIS (ARGENTINA) Dr Patricia Sangenis has worked tirelessly to promote women in sport both nationally and internationally. As a doctor, she has raised awareness of female athlete health, helping to destroy myths about women’s sporting performance and encouraging them to take part in sport with full knowledge of their body. As chair of the IOC Medical Commission’s Working Group on Women in Sport, Dr Sangenis coordinated the work that led to the drafting of recommendations on minimising the risks of injuries to girls and women and increasing their participation in sport. As chair of the Argentine Olympic Committee Women and Sport Commission, she continues to advocate the advancement of women in sports leadership and management roles. ASIA JAPAN LADIES TENNIS FEDERATION Founded in 1967, the Japan Ladies Tennis Federation (JLTF) has 47 branches covering all the prefectures of Japan and has initiated a variety of activities throughout the country to increase women’s participation in the sport. In addition to establishing national women’s tennis championships, the JLTF holds tournaments from grassroots to elite level, while each branch hosts seminars and training sessions that aim to increase women’s participation in tennis. The federation has also established a fund aiming to make society, including people with disabilities, more active and has contributed to engaging youth players. The different JLTF activities have helped not only to produce world-class women’s tennis players but also to increase women’s participation in sport more generally. EUROPE ANDROULLA VASSILIOU (CYPRUS) Cyprus National Olympic Committee board member Androulla Vassiliou – the former European Commissioner for Sport – has worked systematically to ensure that gender equality in sport is among the top priorities of the European Commission, and that it also commands the necessary importance at national level and within sport structures. A practising lawyer and former member of parliament in Cyprus, she has promoted women’s rights throughout her life, striving for the promotion of the status of women in professional, political, economic and social fi elds. She took this fi ght to the European Union in 2010, when she was named member of the European Commission responsible for sport, and led the development of the European Sport policy, placing particular emphasis on gender equality. CONTINENTAL TROPHY WINNERS Above The 2017 Continental Trophy winners OLYMPIC REVIEW 67 IOC WOMEN AND SPORT AWARDS