Making gender equality the norm ‘/ IJF.org

When Dr Lisa Allen was first appointed in 2017, it was a big step and it opened the door, clearly, positively and publicly, in a way that showed the steps being taken around the world to ensure that gender equality is not a gesture or a word. It was a necessary and natural meeting for the one who now acts as responsible for the events of the World Judo Tour.

Dr Alan now joins Sanda Korac (CRO), Salima Sucre (ALG) and Erdent Oudh Khishigbat (MGL). All three have played an important role in judo and the sporting communities at large for many years and bring unique skills and experience to this table of great power.

Sanda Korac (CRO) – Director of Education at the IJF

Sanda Korac was a competitive judoka, winning the Yugoslav title over ten times and was among the best in Europe in the 1980s. She has spent much of her career, once removed from the tatami, and focused on the university world, bringing together many aspects of research around a judo-centric. Sanda is now editor-in-chief of the IJF’s new “Arts and Sciences in Judo” magazine, the first volume of which was published online just a few months ago.

“Due to my experience, not only in judo but in scientific research and education, I hope to be able to contribute to development in the world. At present, the IJF is the only international sports federation with a scientific journal. I hope to refine and bridge the research gap between the scientific and practical application of results in sport.

Judo Arts and Sciences – Volume 1

Sanda’s work has huge implications for reassessing and improving training systems, injury management, psychological understanding and countless other topics, all of which are important not only at the elite level but at club level. It’s exciting, to say the least.

One of Sanda’s new colleagues on the Executive Committee of the International Golf Federation is Salima Sucre (ALG), Director of Development of the IJF. Salima has participated in 4 Olympic Games and was 7 times African champion. She was an active activist for women in sport and even served as a consultant to the United Nations.

“I am very happy to be elected to the European Commission. This is a welcome recognition after a long career, over 36 years in competitive sport and beyond. Having participated in the four Olympic Games, I worked as a women’s judo coach in Algeria. I wanted to promote women’s judo, realizing that there are not many female practitioners in the country. I take responsibility for women in judo and sport in general for Algeria and it’s all about development. As a champion, I have the opportunity not only to talk about winning medals but to champion a cause. I will always advocate for equal participation in all sports In my country, where it is traditionally unacceptable for a woman to be strong in sports.

Being a member of the European Commission is an important and beautiful opportunity to be able to promote equality in Algeria and throughout Africa. I also operate a transit point between Africa and the Arab world. There are a lot of Arab countries where there are men’s teams, while there are no women’s teams. There is a school of thought which prefers to think that investing in men pays off, which is easier but the reverse is true! As Minister of Elite Sports in Algeria my professional life is now aligned and I am determined to add value to the IJF EC with both my experience and my demographics. “

The last seat is occupied by Erdenet-Od Khishigbat (MGL), Director of Global Promotion of the IJF. Erdenet-Od is also a 4-time Olympian and world medalist, was a 16-time Mongolian champion and has additional experience coaching her national team in two full Olympics. She worked with prolific female judokas for 11 years, across the national team, and retired from her coaching role in 2019.

“I was thirteen in 1988, and I had just started judo in the capital of Mongolia. I competed for 20 years and all in 32 years dedicated to the dojo. I am very happy with this choice. ”

I feel that I now have a huge responsibility and I take it very seriously. I really know Judo and see it as an advantage by bringing all my experience to the role of the European Commission. Firstly, I want to learn to work within the IFJ team as I have always seen from the outside; It is necessary to monitor the organization. From there, I intend to create and refine a plan to help Mongolia as well as the rest of Asia.

There are difficult issues to face. In the past, Mongolian culture did not make it easy for women to understand who wanted to practice judo. My long-term goal is to help girls and women, many of whom come from rural areas who are struggling to adapt to the city’s culture.

There is now a large training center for all sports in Mongolia: the National Training Center. It is not necessary to come to the National Center but it is much faster and brings a greater probability of success. As a coach, I have been able to help some to make the transition, but working in the European Commission will allow this competence to be broadened to include development in more Asian countries. I want to help them all, a lot of coaches would like to do this kind of work but it is not always possible. Let’s change that! “

A few days after the official announcement of the new Executive Committee, during the World Championships, a low voice vote took place to elect the members of the New Athletes Committee as well as its President. The popular vote came as no surprise and Austrian activist Sabrina Filsmoser was duly elected. This role is accompanied by an automatic inclusion in the Executive Committee of the IFJ and thus the European Commission obtained another woman, bringing the proportion to 5 out of 27 seats. This is revolutionary and advances the cause of the IFJ Equity Commission, providing a diversity more representative of the global organization of the IFJ.

Sabrina is a current World Judo Tour athlete and has just been nominated by the Austrian Olympic Committee for her fourth Olympic Games, in the midst of an incredibly competitive career. She is already working hard on the IJF’s climate change campaign and, as recently reported, is doing notable humanitarian work in Nepal and Bhutan.

Sabrina was humble and enthusiastic as she commented on her date. “I really appreciate her, for this opportunity to advocate and grow in leadership and management positions, as a woman, to advance the rights and well-being of women through our sport, and to use our values ​​in the best possible way.

We all share the same spirit of equality, we fight with courage and humility, and it makes me very proud to be part of and contribute to the entire judo community.

Austrian Judo President Martin Boeger said: “We are very proud of Sabrina. We were proud of her appointment, but even more so because she assumed the position of chair of the committee. She is not only an athlete but seems to have the energy for an endless career and every aspect of her is inspiring.

Several members of the IJF Executive Committee will be working in Tokyo, their first Olympics in their new roles, but this is their first full Olympic appearance for one of them and their previous experiences combined with this new experience promise to lead the whole of judo. The family is in a progressive new era, where gender equality is more the norm than the countryside.

Having an active Olympian in the European Commission is also a first for the IJF, and as a wish we wish Sabrina a safe and successful last Olympic outing in the midst of a fantastic career.