The main focus of the event, which has attracted more than 60 people, is to train attendees on how they can run for leadership positions within the world of sport.

Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) President Francesco Ricci Bitti, who opened the Forum, admitted there was currently a "huge lack" of female sporting leaders.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Lydia Nsekera of Burundi was also in attendance on the opening day, along with IOC director general Christophe de Kepper, who chairs the Women in Sport Commission.

"Women can bring an important skill set and perspective to sport organisations which, in my view, counts much more than satisfying quota demands," Ricci Bitti said. 

"In sport, we still have a huge lack of female leaders, that’s why we aim to use this Forum to help develop them.

"It is an action driven event and we have been encouraged by the positive outcomes we saw after the first edition last year."

During the forum, which concludes on International Women's Day on Wednesday (March 8), participants will also be taught how to lead others and how to become more politically savvy.

A series of panel discussions are due to take place tomorrow, which will come after BBC director of sport Barbara Slater, a former gymnast who competed at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, delivers a speech.

Subsequent debates will then feature male and female leaders from IFs and National Olympic Committees (NOCs), who will explore the current challenges facing female leadership in IFs.

"We need to continue these good results and not weaken in our efforts to ensure that even more women are elected to positions of responsibility within IFs, National Federations and clubs," Nsekera, who also sits on FIFA's ruling Council, said.

"This is another of this Forum’s objectives: to give you helpful advice on performing your role, but also to enable you in turn to become mentors for other women working or seeking to work in the world of sport."