"Sport can be a difficult area for women to break into and crucially, hold key influential positions within," said the chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Women in Sport Committee Tine Rindum-Teilmann

"The IPC has done a great job in doubling the number of female participants in Paralympic Games over the last 20 years, but more work still needs to be done to develop female leaders.

"This was shown in last years' Governing Board elections where only four out of the 27 candidates were women."

Only three members of the 14 elected members of the IPC Governing Board are female, American Ann Cody, Kyung-won Na of South Korea, and Rita Van Driel of the Netherlands. 

IPC Governing Board member Rita van Driel of the Netherlands (left) is one prominent female figure ©George Santamouris



The summit in Vienna, beginning today and lasting until Saturday (May 10), will see mentors from within and outside the Paralympic Movement meet mentees spanning athletic, coaching, secretarial and administrative backgrounds.

Over three days both the mentors and mentees will attend a series of sessions to start building their  relationship and agree a communication and development plan for the 18-month long mentoring phase, which will include short-term further education.

In particular mentors will learn how to support their mentees in their professional and personal development..

A variety of talks and speeches will also be held by figures ranging from university professors, to women from the world of business and sports, and to athletes, coaches and officials from IPC Alpine Skiing and the IPC Athletes' Council.

"Para-sport in particular is a rapidly growing area and we are determined to set the bar for female leadership high by launching the first WoMentoring kick-off event here in Vienna," said Rindum-Tielmann.

"We hope that all of the mentees and mentors will learn and grow over the next two years, and gain the tools and knowledge which they can use to continue making their mark in this incredible area of sport."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2014: Agitos Foundation calls for grant applications to support Para-athletes
April 2014: "We must have confidence in our ability" urges Women's World discussion panel
December 2013: Agitos Foundation Grant Support Programme hailed after worldwide progress in 2013
October 2013: More than 30 Para-sport projects to receive funding from Agitos Foundation