QUEENSLAND – For the first time ever in the history of a major multi-sport Games, there will be an equal number of medal events for men and women at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Seven additional women’s events in categories across Weightlifting, Boxing and Cycling have been confirmed on the sports programme.
The major announcement was made by GC2018 Chairman Peter Beattie AC in front of sporting leaders from 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Sports Summit.
It ensures the next edition of the Games will have a 50/50 split of medal moments for men and women; a sporting first in the history of a major Games.
The seven events added to the programme, taking the total number of medal events at Gold Coast 2018 to a record-breaking 275 medal events, are:
Louise Martin CBE, Commonwealth Games Federation President said: “We’ve come a long way since the first Games in 1930, when women competed in just seven (or 12% of) medal events.
“The last edition of the Games in Glasgow created the highest-ever percentage of medal events for women (48.5%), placing true gender equality in medal opportunities at the Games clearly within reach.
“This is a significant step towards the realisation of the Commonwealth Games Federation’s vision for gender equality. I’m so proud that the CGF, GOLDOC, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association and our International Federation colleagues have worked together to close the gender gap in time for Gold Coast 2018 – and present an equal number of medal moments for men and women for the first time ever at a major Games.” (PR/SAT)
