Sportswomen seek more opportunities

Sportswomen seek more opportunities

JAKARTA (JP): A declaration demanding more opportunities for
women in track and field closed a symposium held by the
International Amateur Athletics Federation and the Asian Amateur
Athletics Association yesterday.

The declaration, made by 80 women from 15 countries, urged
both the international track and field bodies to set up a new
department to oversee women's specific needs in track and field.

Providing courses for women coaches, technical officials and
administrators was outlined as imperative to enhance women's
organizational roles in athletics bodies.

The third clause suggested regulations to eliminate sexual
harassment against female athletes, coaches and administrators,
as well as women covering sports for the media.

Symposium participants proposed exclusive competitions for
women who, due to their cultural, traditional and religious
barriers, cannot join modern events.

"It will be a task for the IAAF to inform the results of the
symposium to other countries," Ilse Bechthold told The Jakarta
Post.

Bechthold, who chairs the IAAF Women's Committee, said that
the first meeting would inspire the same activities in other
areas.

She said she hopes that after ratifying the declaration, the
world track and field governing body will declare 1998 "the year
of women's athletics".

"The female athletes' emancipation in the stadium works well,
but it's not working in the organization inside, even at the
presidential level," Bechthold said.

"Women around the world must also be boosted to come forward
if they want to prove they are capable of conducting the
declaration," she said in her closing speech. (yan)