New Zealander Honoured by IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has honoured New Zealand sportswoman, Susie Simcock, for her contribution to the promotion of women in sport.

At the 2010 Women and Sport Awards the IOC and the Olympic family presented five continental trophies and one world trophy to exceptional personalities who have each made a significant difference to boosting the development, participation and involvement of women and girls in sport around the world.

Simcock, who was awarded the Oceania trophy, 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 womenâs and menâs 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.

Simcock was made a New Zealand Olympic Order Holder in 2008 and was a New Zealand Olympic Committee Board Member for twelve years before stepping down in 2009.

New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General Barry Maister says Simcock's honour is well-deserved, stating "Susie has been a trailblazer for women in New Zealand sport ... currently she is tackling the issue of representation of women on the boards of New Zealand sporting organizations and is raising awareness around the benefits of gender balance and in decision-making and her ongoing contribution to sport in New Zealand is highly significant."

Simcock was awarded the trophy in an official ceremony 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 and guests.

Addressing the winners and the audience, President Rogge stated "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."