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Did the 2025 Summer Olympics Create Gender
Balance & Leadership?

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France achieved gender equality by having an equal number of male and female athletes competing. This was the first time in the history of the Summer Olympics that gender equality was achieved. Did the Summer Olympics create gender balance and leadership?

GUEST SPEAKER, DIANE MILUTINOVICH

Nike Lifetime Achievement Former Associate AthleticS Director, Fresno State University

Diane Milutinovich served as a teacher, head coach and athletics administrator at California State University Fresno (Fresno State) for 27 years and remains a tireless advocate for Title IX and gender equity.

During Diane’s tenure as associate athletics director/senior woman administrator at Fresno State, she supervised multiple areas in the athletics department and served as a sport supervisor for 15 different men's and women's sports. She served on many university committees to include the planning, construction and renovation of facilities including the softball stadium, baseball stadium, football stadium, gym and annex and the student recreation center. In addition, she chaired the Bulldog Diamond Softball Stadium Fund Drive Committee. She served on conference and NCAA committees as well, including the NCAA Women’s Committee on Committees, Softball Rules Committee and the Division I Softball Championship Committee, which she also chaired.

In recognition of her distinguished service, Fresno State conferred upon Diane the title of Associate Athletic Director Emerita of the Athletics Department.

GUEST SPEAKER, PATI ROLF

Former Volleyball Referee | Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 | Olympic Games Rio 2016

Pati Rolf is a former volleyball referee who spent 18 years at international level before retiring after the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. She was part of the historic all-female gold medal officiating crew at the Rio 2016 volleyball women’s final, and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the FIVB Rules of the Game & Refereeing Commission.

Rolf's path to the Commission took her as a served President of our North Country Region of USA Volleyball in the 90s and was a member of the USA Badger Region Board when she move to Wisconsin to coach at Marquette. She was elected to the USA At-Large National Indoor Referees Representative Officials Assembly, then became Chair of the USA Rules of the Game Commission.

We are the global champion for gender equality.

UN Women is the UN organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential.

Girls and sport

Sport is a great enabler to teach girls the skills they need to advance in life. Girls who play sports develop self-esteem, confidence, resilience, and learn to work in teams. They tend to stay in school longer, delay pregnancy, and get better jobs.

Eighty per cent of female Fortune 500 CEOs played sports in their formative years, emphasizing the profound impact of early exposure to sports on women’s development and ability to reach their full potential.

Ninety-two per cent of global audiences surveyed by Parity Now agree it’s important for girls to play sports growing up, with 61 per cent deeming it “very important”.

Despite the evidence of clear benefits, by the age of 14 girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys due to several factors, such as social expectations, lack of investment in quality programs, and more.

Membership

Urban Gurl/Suburban Swurl Celebrity Golf Tournament Coming Soon

Sports Opportunity Director Ronni Savage's golf training

GURL GOLF CLINIC

Women of Concern Professionals & Strategic Conscious Networking is excited to share our girl’s Urban Gurl/Suburban Swurl, which is our global Initiative that increases self-confidence and leadership skills in girls through sports.