Towards the international women’s day 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced women sports awards to six women. Among the awards was one global woman award while the rest five represented the five Olympic categories. After taking a look at the 2020 Olympics preview, we’ve decided to reveal the six female athletes who were celebrated for their sports achievements ahead of the international women’s day.
Skateistan
The global award went to Skateistan, a non-profit organization that utilizes skateboarding and education to better the lives of young girls. According to reliable sources, over 25,000 children in South Africa, Cambodia, and Afghanistan have benefited from the Skateistan programs.
Oliver Percovich, the founder of the Skateistan, said that skateboarding for girls is terrific because it’s not considered like other gender-based sports like bike riding. Since the skateboard invention, there haven’t been gender-based obstacles hindering girls from participating and competing in skating. “Most of the games face societal rules that limit girls from taking part, but skateboarding does not.”
President Thomas Bach and the IOC Women in Sport Commission picked out the winners. He said that the IOC was embracing the year that the Olympics will, for the first time, see gender balanced sports.
Salima Souakri
The award for Africa was scooped by the first Algeria and Arab woman to take part in Judo at the Olympics. She became a member of the International Judo Federation’s Gender Committee after participating in four Olympic Games. She is also the Ambassador of the United Children’s Fund Goodwill.
Else Trangbaek
Else Trangbaek took home the European award. That was after representing Denmark in gymnastics as the first woman. She is also now a university professor and a prominent voice in some sports, mainly the Danish game. She is also a frequent advocate for the participation of women in Danish sport.
Dr. Guylaine Demers
The Canadian chair lady for the study of women research at Laval University is now the proud winner of the Americas award. She is also a 2015 co-founder of Conversations on Women in Sport. Additionally, she has played a significant role in Canadian sports and even advocates for females in sports.
Kim Jin-ho
Having won the bronze medal in 1984 at Los Angeles, the South Korean Archer Kim-Jin-ho is today the proud holder of the Asian award. She won this award for her dedication in fighting for a viable women representation in the governing bodies at the national level.
She is also started the Myeong-Goong Council, an organization that focuses on giving cost-free archery classes to numerous children, most of whom are girls.
Kitty Chiller
Oceania’s award went to Kitty Chiller, now Australia’s chief executive of gymnastics. She was Australia’s first woman Chef de Mission held in Rio 2016. Initially, she took part in modern pentathlon. “If you let obstacles bar you, they will surely do,” she said.
Kitty Chiller strongly believes that everyone can be the best person they want to be. She adds that this is achievable by making use of the available opportunities.