Susie Simcock wins IOC award

On the occasion of Olympic Day, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic family today celebrated the 2010 Women and Sport Awards. Five continental trophies and one world trophy were given to exceptional personalities who all have made a significant difference to boosting the development, participation and involvement of women and girls in sport around the world.

The official ceremony was held at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, in the presence of IOC President Jacques Rogge; Anita DeFrantz, IOC member and Chairperson of the IOC Women and Sport Commission; the members of the IOC Women and Sport Commission; IOC Executive Board members; and guests invited to take part in the Olympic Day celebrations.
 
The winners of the 2010 Women and Sport Awards – five women and one man - include former Olympic medallists, sports leaders and political decision-makers.
 
National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International Federations (IFs) and Continental Associations were invited to submit candidatures, and the winners were selected by the IOC Women and Sport Commission. This year, the trophies were awarded as follows:
 
- IOC World Trophy: Erica Terpstra (Netherlands)

- IOC Trophy for Africa: Germaine Manguet (Guinea)

- IOC Trophy for the Americas: Leslie McDonald (Canada)

- IOC Trophy for Asia: Yuko Arimori (Japan)

- IOC Trophy for Europe: Grete Waitz (Norway)

- IOC Trophy for Oceania:  Susan Simcock (New Zealand)

Addressing the winners and the audience, President Rogge said: “It is fitting that our celebration of Olympic Day this year includes the presentation of the 2010 IOC Women and Sport Awards. For all the progress that society has made, we still need to improve the access of girls and women to sport around the world. The recipients of the Women and Sport Awards are role models who are opening doors to gender equality on the field of play, within coaching staff and in sports administration.”
  
Speaking at the ceremony, Anita DeFrantz said: "Olympic Day is about getting everybody to move and about moving together - regardless of age, athletic ability and gender. It is meant to be a truly inclusive event that can be celebrated by everybody, everywhere. Today’s award winners have all embraced this philosophy.” Speaking about achievements, she declared: “On the field of play, we are moving closer and closer to men and women competing in even numbers on the world’s greatest sporting stage. This year, more than 40 per cent of the athletes taking part in Vancouver 2010 were women, a new record for women’s participation in the Olympic Winter Games.”

Information on the Susan Simcock:

Susan Simcock (New Zealand)
Susan Simcock was the first woman to be elected President of the World Squash Federation and the first to be elected as a council member of the General Association of International Sports Federations, known today as SportAccord. She is also Chairperson of the Women and Sport Committee for the New Zealand National Olympic Committee. She led the mergers between women’s and men’s federations in international squash and New Zealand golf, ensuring gender balance at executive level. As President of the World Squash Federation, she oversaw support for the Brighton Declaration for Women. She has initiated several projects, including a study on gender balance in her own country, and developing guidelines to assist other national sports federations to improve gender balance on their boards.

About Olympic Day
Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.  The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe, regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. Over the last 20 years, Olympic Day has been associated with Olympic Day Runs all over the world. From 45 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the first edition in 1987, the numbers have grown to nearly 200 participating NOCs. What’s more, many of the participating NOCs are in Africa – proving the event’s worldwide appeal.

Over the past few years, Olympic Day has developed into much more than just a run or a sports event. Some countries have incorporated Olympic Day activities into the school curriculum. Others have added concerts and exhibitions to the sports activity. Athletes and Olympic champions are also active on Olympic Day to encourage people to take up sport, enjoy and excel. If you want to get active on Olympic Day, join us on Facebook and tell us what you do!