The Brazilian Olympic Committee has launched its Women in Sport Commission ©COB/Rafael Bello

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) has officially launched its Women in Sport Commission in a bid to improve gender equality and women's participation.

Its first meeting was held on May 16 at the COB headquarters.

"The Women in Sport Commission was created so that, interdisciplinarity, people with diverse views could contribute with suggestions and information related to the Olympic Movement, under the perspective of women in sports," said COB chair Paulo Wanderley.

"The COB understands the importance of the field and, hence, seeks the balance of representativeness in the sporting environment between men and women."

Olympic sailing bronze medallist Isabel Swan led a presentation into women in sport within the National Olympic Committee.

Isabel Swan is the commissioner of the Women in Sport Commission ©Getty Images
Isabel Swan is the commissioner of the Women in Sport Commission ©Getty Images

"This initiative seeks to integrate diverse areas of activity of the COB, contributing to the development of projects in favour of equity in both the management and technical areas," said Swan, the COB women in sport coordinator.

"It will be an advisory commission that will offer suggestions, recommendations, and relevant information to encourage the presence of women in sport."

United Nations women consultant Bárbara Pires spoke about equity and inclusion policies through a study conducted by International Federations.

Kenji Saito, COB director of sports development, opened the meeting, stating the new group would be beneficial to women.