Conference on gender equity in judo held in Baku for the first time

Baku. 20 September. REPORT.AZ/ The Gender Equity Commission of the International Judo Federation (IJF) has arranged the first conference on issues of men and women equity in Baku.

Report informs that the event held at the Hilton Hotel with participation of IJF president Marius Vizer took place under the leadership of the organization's Competition Manager Lisa Allan.

The conference was attended by Japan's Judo Federation President Yasuhiro Yamashita, Romanian MP Rozália-Ibolya Biró, President of Croatian Judo Federation Sanda Corak, Chair of the Judo Federation of Australia (JFA) Kate Corkery, Japanese Akiko Amano, Brazilian Yuko Fujii, Driton Kuka and Majlinda Kelmendi from Kosovo, Austrian Sabrina Filzmoser, representatives of a number of national federations and other people.

Vizer as well as other speakers in the event drew attention to the importance of gender equity in sport. They also stressed the importance of the right strategy and balance in this sphere.

Yamashita voiced his support for the commission and said broad discussions on gender issue will be held in the structure he leads. He urged other national federations to struggle against gender discrimination in sport.

Corak noted that male judokas were for the first time allowed to participate in the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in 1964, while women were granted this right much later - during the Barcelona Summer Olympic Games in 1992. She noted that only 26% of national federations responded to IJF's inquiry related to gender equity in 2017. The Croatian activist said that only 20% of the structure member-states work actively in this direction.

Filzmoser said it is a positive factor that the amount of the prize intended for male and female judokas in different judo competitions is equal.

Amano who debuted as Japan's first woman referee in the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008 stressed the importance of attracting women to refereeing. Corkery noted in her turn that for the further popularization of judo in the world it is necessary to promote this sport among women.

Notably, the world judo championship will be held at the National Gymnastic Arena on September 20-27.