Los Angeles to Host 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport

Los Angeles to Host 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport

Los Angeles, California. – October 26, 2010 The International Olympic Committee’s quadrennial World Conference on Women and Sport will be held in Los Angeles in 2012, it was announced today by Barry A. Sanders, Chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG). The IOC informed SCCOG and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) of the decision earlier today.

The IOC organizes a World Conference on Women and Sport every four years with the objective of analyzing the progress made within the Olympic Movement and identifying ways to improve and increase participation of women in the world of sport.

"The World Conference on Women and Sport will once again provide an essential forum for advancing the cause of women in sport around the world,” said Anita DeFrantz, Chairperson of the IOC Women and Sport Commission and President of the LA84 Foundation. “By bringing together some of the most influential and prominent thought leaders in and outside of sport it will allow important discussions about new developments and recommendations to enhance the involvement of women in all aspects of sport."

The SCCOG, in partnership with the USOC, will be responsible for the organization and staging of the conference. A Local Organizing Committee will be formed by SCCOG for this purpose and will include representatives from the Los Angeles Sports Council, the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and LA Inc., among others.

IOC President Jacques Rogge traditionally attends the conference, which historically has attracted 600 participants from more than 135 countries representing the Olympic Movement, universities, non-governmental organizations and other experts. The program will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, cultural events and forums.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to reacquaint the leadership of the IOC from all over the world with the people of Los Angeles and their longstanding passionate commitment to the Olympic Movement. Our community is a leader in creating opportunities in sport for women. We will welcome the delegates warmly" said Barry Sanders.

The 2012 Conference will be the 5th such event. Previous conferences were held in Lausanne, Switzerland (1996), Paris, France (2000), Marrakech, Morocco (2004) and at the Dead Sea, Jordan (2008). The Los Angeles Conference will take place in February of 2012. It will be the first IOC event held in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.