Paris 2024 Olympics: A new era for women in sport

Illustration of diverse female athletes

The game is changing. For the first time in history, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will see an equal number of men and women competing. This 50:50 representation of athletes makes the Summer Games the first to reach gender parity.

Progress does not stop there. With an expected global audience of 3 billion, this year’s Games will feature equal prime time coverage of all events, putting all athletes in the spotlight. The Games will also feature more women’s and mixed events, offering more opportunities for women to win medals.  

The rise of women's sport in numbers
illustration of a female athlete
50%

of competing athletes at the Paris Games are women.

illustration of female athletes in the media
70%

of people watch women’s sport, but only 16% of 2022 sports media coverage was of women’s sports. 

illustration of a female athlete
14%

larger social media following than male athletes but women still get less coverage.

Facts and figures: Women in sport

Get the facts on women in sport with our latest deep dive into the state of gender equality in the sports world.

Explore the highs that female athletes have reached as well as the gaps that persist, from pay equity to ensuring that women can play in a safe environment. This analysis is a testament to the strides that women have made towards gender equality in the world of sport.

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Stela attends the eighth grade and her dream is to become a world boxing champion. Photo: UN Women Moldova/ Diana Savina.

Five things to know about women and sport

Women's sports are on a winning streak, reaching new heights and shattering records. From the Olympics achieving gender parity to the growing audience for women's sports, there is much to celebrate and explore. Yet many gender gaps remain.

Here are five key things to know about women and sport.

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Girls' football teams in Gaziantep, Turkey played for solidarity against gender-based violence.

#ChangeTheGame

Are you ready to be part of something big?

Start today and join us in celebrating the first gender equal games in history with the #ChangeTheGame hashtag.

Dive into our social media package and celebrate #WomenInSport as #GameChangers!

 

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illustration of diverse female athletes

Support women in sport

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Guidelines for gender-responsive sports organizations

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Tackling violence against women and girls in sport

A handbook for policy makers and sports practitioners.
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Gender Equality in and through Sports

Gender-equal, fair, and inclusive representation in sport

Guidelines for sports leaders, communicators, content creators and media.
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Sport for Generation Equality Initiative

Sport is a powerful tool for social transformation.
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Leveling the playing field

1896 1900 1964 1984 1996 2012 2020 2022 2024
  • Olympic flag

    1896 Athens Games

    The 1896 Summer Olympics were the first international Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece. No women participated. 

  • 1900 Paris Games

    These were the first modern games featuring female athletes. Women made up 2.2 per cent of participants. 

  • 1964 Tokyo Games

    Women made up 13 per cent of participants at the Tokyo Games. 

  • 1984 Los Angeles Games

    Women made up 23 per cent of participants at the Los Angeles Games. 

  • 1996

    Promotion of women becomes a mission of the IOC and is enshrined in the Olympic Charter. 

  • 2012 London Games

    The London games were known as the “women’s games” because for the first time every country had a female participant. Women participants accounted for 44 per cent of competing athletes.

  • 2020

    Following a rule change allowing one male and one female athlete to jointly carry their flag during the Opening Ceremony, 91 per cent of National Olympic Committees had a female flag bearer. 

  • 2022

    50 per cent of the members of IOC Commissions positions have been held by women since 2022. 

  • 2024 Paris Games

    First gender equal games in terms of participation. Out of the 10,500 athletes participating in the Games, 5,250 will be men and 5,250 women.