More than 50 women officials and sports leaders representing 21 European federations and a number of countries from the rest of the world are attending the Women in World Athletics (WIWA) Seminar in Kenilworth, England, from 4-7 April.
The seminar, the second in a series of four that are part of the pre-legacy for the IAAF World Athletic Championships and the IPC Athletics World Championships to be held in London in 2017, aims to increase the involvement of women in all functions and roles of athletics by developing women officials and women leaders.
Hosted by British Athletics and European Athletics with support from the IAAF and UK Sport, it is staged in conjunction with the annual British Athletics Officials Conference.
The seminar programme includes presentations by Baroness Sue Campbell, who chairs UK Sport, the national umbrella body for top-level sport, and Sylvia Barlag, a member of both the European Athletics Council and the IAAF Council.
Workshops are being delivered by experts from the universities of Loughborough and Derby.
The first WIWA seminar, in April 2013, featured presentations by Olympic 400m bronze medallist Katharine Merry and explorer Rhona Cant and was attended by 50 participants from 30 countries.
“Last year’s WIWA seminar was a huge success and as the programme grows we hope to be able to extend the opportunity to more and more countries,” says Cherry Alexander MBE, British Athletics Major Events Director. “Our intention is to utilise the women who come through the programme at the championships and therefore WIWA is a vital part of our preparations.”
“There are huge benefits to be gained from working closely with the IAAF, European Athletics and UK Sport and we thank them for their support. In particular, our partnership with European Athletics allows us to work alongside their Women’s Leadership Awards in work which is complimentary to WIWA.”
European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said: 'We are pleased to again be working with British Athletics, the IAAF and other great partners on the second Women in World Athletics seminar. It is our hope that the seminar contributes to the development of the next generation of women competition officials and club leaders.
“We are sure some of the participants will be recognised in the future through our Women's Leadership Awards, which celebrate the important contributions made by women in our sport.'