LIFT THE BAN ON WOMEN'S CANOEING AT THE OLYMPICS

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Help us reach 5,000 signatures to press the President of the International Canoe Federation, Mr. Jose Perurena, and the International Olympic Committee to lift the ban on women's canoeing at the Olympics.

Please sign and share our petition: 

https://www.change.org/petitions/lift-the-ban-on-women-s-canoeing-at-the-olympics

We want men and women to each have five events at the Rio 2016 Olympics. By including women’s canoe - in both the sprint and slalom disciplines - in Rio 2016, the ICF and the IOC will show the world that the Olympic Charter’s words “implementing the principle of equality of men and women” is not an empty statement and that they are taking an active role in achieving the goal of gender balance. It would have far-reaching benefits for developing not only women and girls in the sport of Canoe, but will demonstrate the encouragement of girls and women in all sports.

We want the ICF to petition the IOC immediately to add five women’s canoe events to the Rio 2016 Olympic Program. We expect the ICF to live by the credo in the Olympic Charter: "The practice of sport is a human right".

The IOC Executive Board will meet again in Russia May 29-31.

Reference 2 reports calling for the IOC to get gender balance by 2020. And if raising the athlete quotas (or caps on the total # of athletes) is required, then it must be done for the good of the Games:  

The London 2012 Olympics - a Gender Equality Audit, by the University of Toronto. And, the SHARP Center/Women's Sports Foundation Report “Women in the Olympic and Paralympic Games” - Report Reveals Equity Gaps in Participation, Leadership Opportunities for Women. 

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