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Arthur Choga
The Art of Sport
THERE has been an increase in the number of women in sports leadership in recent years, and the trend is both groundbreaking and potentially game-changing.
In track events, particularly in the 200m and the 400m, athletes prefer to be drawn into the inner lanes or inside tracks.
The reasoning is that the tight curve in this lane gives you an advantage and allows you to steal a march on those who run in the outer lanes.
Women in sport have worked to earn the inside track.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) appointed Marlene Chiedza Gadzirayi as their new CEO/secretary-general.
To appreciate this incredible feat, it is worth noting that in March 2023, there were only 24 out of 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) headed by women.
“Marlene will assume her new role on the 1st of September 2023, taking over from Mrs Memory Pakati, the head of finance and administration, who has been acting in that role since February 2023,” read a statement released by ZOC president Thabani Gonye.
As an umbrella sports organisation, ZOC has 32 national federations affiliated to it. Its mission is to protect and promote the Olympic movement in Zimbabwe and beyond, in accordance with the Olympic Charter.
The Special Olympics is also headed by a woman — Lillian Chikara.
Gadzirayi’s appointment follows the recent announcement of Eltah Nengomasha as director-general of the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
SRC is the regulatory body for all sporting associations in the country.
When you factor in that the Minister of Sport is Kirsty Coventry, then it means the top jobs in sports in the country are all in the hands of women.
Further, the Normalisation Committee appointed to run the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has significant female representation.
This is unprecedented and most welcome.
Men have had their opportunity and many of them have not particularly covered themselves in glory.
Our new crop of sporting leaders need our support to achieve their vision.
However, the joy of these appointments is that the appointees have demonstrated capacity and knowledge in their areas of expertise.
Globally, women in sport have not attained leadership roles at the rate that would be expected.
A recent survey by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), released on March 7 this year, made the following findings:
Based on data provided by the 31 largest international federations, women only hold 26,9 percent of executive positions in international federations.
Annika Sorenstam (International Golf Federation), Petra Sorilng (International Table Tennis Federation) and Marisol Casado (World Triathlon) are the only three women to chair international federations.
There are 23 women vice presidents in those 31 international sports federations, while five are secretary-generals. Only three federations are chaired by women.
In global Olympic movements, the figures are quite telling.
As we noted above, out of the 206 NOCs that are part of the International Olympic Committee, only 24 are chaired by women.
Notably, there is a positive groundswell of goodwill. For ladies, it is time to make the most out of that inside track.
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