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STATEMENT: IWG, WSI & IAPESGW respond to sexist comments

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Global women’s sport advocacy organisations respond to sexist comments by Tokyo 2020 OCOG President, Mr. Yoshiro Mori

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COMBINED STATEMENT: 11 February 2021

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport

WomenSport International (WSI)

International Association of Physical Education for Girls and Women (IAPESGW)

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The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport, WomenSport International (WSI) and the International Association on Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) are shocked, angered and deeply frustrated by the sexist comments made in relation to women in sport leadership, and effectively women in sport as a whole, by Mr. Yoshiro Mori, President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (TOCOG). 

IWG, WSI and IAPESGW wish to condemn Mr. Mori’s comments, deeply out-of-touch with the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements and the UN agenda and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 – Gender Equality, which have offended the Japanese people and all those working for sport and the advancement of gender equality in and through sport globally. 

For over 25 years, IWG, WSI and IAPESGW have worked to increase the visibility and voice of women and girls across international sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite levels and in all parts of the system. It is a core pillar of action for all three advocacy organisations and central to our joint mission as global partners. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Japanese National Olympic Committee (JNOC) and Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC) are all signatories to the IWG Brighton plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on Women & Sport, the preeminent global treaty that provides a road map to support the ongoing development of a more fair and equitable system of sport and physical activity, fully inclusive of women and girls.

We do not believe that the personal behaviour of Mr. Mori is reflective of this commitment and we will continue our work together with all our partners to achieve a fair and equal playing field for girls and women in all their diversity.

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The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport is the world’s largest network dedicating to empowering and achieving equity for women and girls through sport and physical activity. It was established at the first IWG World Conference in Brighton, UK, in 1994 and remains guardian of the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration on Women & Sport.

WomenSport International (WSI) was formed to meet the challenge of ensuring that sport and physical activity receive the attention and priority they deserve in the lives of girls and women. WSI is both an issues and action based organization with members representing over 30 countries.

International Association of Physical Education & Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) supports its members working for women’s and girls’ sport and physical education, and provides opportunities for professional development and international cooperation. IAPESGW has members in all five continents and more than 40 countries. 

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