SIGA has just presented the findings of its latest survey on Female Representation in the Highest Executive Organs of International Sports Federations. The report highlights both the strides made and the ongoing challenges in promoting gender equity in global sports leadership.
Conducted and presented by Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO, SIGA, the survey analyzed the leadership composition of 31 International Federations (IFs) that are members of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). These results shed light on the progress of women’s representation in executive positions across various sports organizations.
The data shows a clear, yet gradual increase in female representation in top executive roles:
- 2019: 18.3%
- 2021: 17.8%
- 2023: 26.9%
- 2024: 28.8%
Although the growth is promising, there remains a significant gap in achieving gender parity in sports governance.
The survey also explored the leadership of National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Of the 206 NOCs worldwide, only 24 are presided over by women, accounting for a mere 11.65%. This demonstrates the need for a more concerted effort to promote female leadership in these influential positions.
The survey ranked International Federations by their success in female representation. The top-performing IFs have between 37.59% and 57.14% women in executive roles. In contrast, the worst performers have as little as 13.51%, indicating that some federations still face significant challenges in promoting gender diversity.
In a conclusion, while the 2024 survey indicates a positive trend in female representation, with nearly 28.8% of executive roles now held by women, the journey toward full gender parity remains incomplete. The survey emphasizes the importance of continued efforts to bridge this gap, particularly within federations that lag behind and within National Olympic Committees, where female leadership remains exceedingly rare.
The findings of the SIGA 2024 survey serve as a reminder of the need for ongoing advocacy and reform to ensure that women have equal opportunities in sports leadership globally.
As SIGA continues its mission to promote Integrity, Transparency, and Good Governance in Sport, these results provide both a benchmark for progress and a call to action for the future.
Click to Download the Survey
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SIGA is the world’s leading organisation for Sport Integrity. We are creating a whole new landscape for the sports industry by delivering independent global rating and certification for world Sport to ensure it is governed and operates under the highest integrity standards: The SIGA Universal Standards.
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