Women participation in the Modern Olympic Games: A Study

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to examine the evolution of female participation in the Summer Olympic Games. This is a descriptive research based on documental analysis, covering different sources and bibliography, including reports and factsheets of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and publications of various authors. The results represent an increase in the number of events for women in the Olympic Games since the beginning of the twentieth century. There is also a considerable increase in the number of female participation over the years of study. Since no female sportsperson participated in the inaugural edition of the Modern Olympic Games, it can be said that the gender equality in terms of opportunity and access was a twentieth century phenomenon (Source: ‘Women athletes in the Olympic Games’ by Rita Amaral Nunes).