My quest took me to Westminster where I
captured this real life version of the hustle and bustle scene
of London traffic from the closing ceremony.
Tucked behind the
Parliament Buildings in a solitary part of the Victoria Tower garden, I found
her - Emmeline Pankurst! Among other
achievements, she is credited with being one of the top 100 women of the 20th
century, for her life work as a suffragette and her achievement with regards the
rights of women.
I was captivated by the way the
sunlight, filtered by the trees, played on her face to create a comforting sense of a celestial
spirit.
London
2012 was a benchmark in so many ways for those of us who believe in sport and the
Olympic movement, but the most significant achievement was for women. For the first time,
every country was represented by both men and women and every sport had events
for women, with synchronised swimming being the "odd man" out!
There have been many people, since the days of Emmeline Pankurst, who made the journey less arduous for women, but in the Olympic movement full credits to Dr. Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC and his incredible team including Gilbert Felli, Christophe Dubi, Isabella Burczak, Tommy Sithole and many hard working IOC members such as Anita de Frantz and our own Marisol Casado.
Triathlon has always been blessed with a policy of equality for men and women, which is entrenched in the constitution. For us in the International Triathlon Union (ITU), we owe a huge thanks to our founding President, Les McDonald, and to strong advocates like Dr. Sarah Springman who co-chaired the first Women's Committee. She set the benchmark: equality of opportunity, recognition and reward in all areas of triathlon, with the help of our men!
Women athletes in London represented 44% of the total number or 5,000 of the total of 10,500. Although there is a long way to go in many countries, the fact that the numbers are closing in on 50% must be cause for celebration. As recent as the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, only 1,566 women competed or 23 per cent of the total, while only one of seven athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics was a woman.
Triathlon has always been blessed with a policy of equality for men and women, which is entrenched in the constitution. For us in the International Triathlon Union (ITU), we owe a huge thanks to our founding President, Les McDonald, and to strong advocates like Dr. Sarah Springman who co-chaired the first Women's Committee. She set the benchmark: equality of opportunity, recognition and reward in all areas of triathlon, with the help of our men!
Women athletes in London represented 44% of the total number or 5,000 of the total of 10,500. Although there is a long way to go in many countries, the fact that the numbers are closing in on 50% must be cause for celebration. As recent as the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, only 1,566 women competed or 23 per cent of the total, while only one of seven athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics was a woman.
This article, from the Globe and Mail, August 2012, outlines the progress that has been made with women's participation in the USA since Title IX legislation was passed. It is an interesting read.
The article also outlines the rocky road ahead, even in an advanced country like the USA and my home country Canada.
I have never valued the sport of boxing, choosing to retreat to less aggressive and violent forms of sporting pleasure. However, the energy and beautiful smile of Nicole Adams captured my heart, along with millions of others.
Nicola earned herself a place in the history books forever as the first woman to win a gold medal in women's boxing.
An indication of how she, and fellow golden boxer Katie Taylor of Ireland, will change the participation of women in boxing is reflected in many press stories, but nowhere more than in the influential online journal, Inside the Games: http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/boxing/18286-adams-historic-olympic-gold-medal-will-attract-young-women-to-boxing-say-abae
Several media stories claim that it is the sexuality of women athletes that drives the new found media attention, but this article in "Wired", which I agree with, argues that this is a good thing. http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/08/women-social-media-olympics .
Being a "Decade 7er", I really believe in the "Younger Next Year" concept as presented in the popular book by Chris Crowley and Dr. Harry Lodge. The premise of "live strong, fit and sexy until you're 80 and beyond" fits in very nicely with a positive appreciation of the beauty and sexuality of women at the height of their physical performance.
But back to Emmeline!
After several moments of being absorbed by Emmeline Pankurst's statue and her memorial plaque, I was distracted by the silky white tail of an incredible horse grazing ever so gracefully on the grass beside the Thames.
An indication of how she, and fellow golden boxer Katie Taylor of Ireland, will change the participation of women in boxing is reflected in many press stories, but nowhere more than in the influential online journal, Inside the Games: http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/boxing/18286-adams-historic-olympic-gold-medal-will-attract-young-women-to-boxing-say-abae
Several media stories claim that it is the sexuality of women athletes that drives the new found media attention, but this article in "Wired", which I agree with, argues that this is a good thing. http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/08/women-social-media-olympics .
Being a "Decade 7er", I really believe in the "Younger Next Year" concept as presented in the popular book by Chris Crowley and Dr. Harry Lodge. The premise of "live strong, fit and sexy until you're 80 and beyond" fits in very nicely with a positive appreciation of the beauty and sexuality of women at the height of their physical performance.
But back to Emmeline!
After several moments of being absorbed by Emmeline Pankurst's statue and her memorial plaque, I was distracted by the silky white tail of an incredible horse grazing ever so gracefully on the grass beside the Thames.
This wonderful creature, whose name was Dragoon, had been up most of the night with his policewoman mount ensuring the post-Olympic partiers retreated to their beds in an orderly fashion. Dragoon, a 10 year old gelding, was partnered with an older chestnut mare and her policeman mount, completing a circle of gender unity.
In the strange way that one's mind works, I connected this to the complete circle created on the operations side of our own Olympic events. Leslie Buchanan and Thanos Nikpoulos, the co-Technical Delegates for the London Olympic Games Triathlon events exemplified the excellence that comes when the best of men and women work collaboratively together for a common goal. This circle of unity evolved through the assignment of the International and National Technical officials and to the LOCOG competition team headed by John Lunt with his passionate side-kick Jasmine Flatters. It made me think about the enormous potential that can result when competent man and woman work collaboratively together. There are complementary abilities that come together to benefit the athletes, officials and leaders in our sport.
Amongst all the great outcome of the London Olympic Games, for me the best is the powerful energy of men and women competing together on the Olympic stage with men and women working together behind the scene to create this magical circle of unity and strength. I am so proud to be inside this circle.
In the strange way that one's mind works, I connected this to the complete circle created on the operations side of our own Olympic events. Leslie Buchanan and Thanos Nikpoulos, the co-Technical Delegates for the London Olympic Games Triathlon events exemplified the excellence that comes when the best of men and women work collaboratively together for a common goal. This circle of unity evolved through the assignment of the International and National Technical officials and to the LOCOG competition team headed by John Lunt with his passionate side-kick Jasmine Flatters. It made me think about the enormous potential that can result when competent man and woman work collaboratively together. There are complementary abilities that come together to benefit the athletes, officials and leaders in our sport.
Amongst all the great outcome of the London Olympic Games, for me the best is the powerful energy of men and women competing together on the Olympic stage with men and women working together behind the scene to create this magical circle of unity and strength. I am so proud to be inside this circle.
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