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)