Gender Parity Push at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Over a century after Pierre de Coubertin dismissed women's participation in the Olympics as impractical, the 2024 Paris Games are aiming for gender parity. Despite the efforts, a slight imbalance remains with slightly more medal events for men. The U.S. leads in the number of women athletes.

Over a century after Pierre de Coubertin dismissed women's participation in the Olympics as impractical, the 2024 Paris Games are setting new standards by aiming for gender parity. This year, organizers are targeting a 50-50 split among the more than 11,000 registered athletes, a significant milestone since women's debut in 1900.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reports indicate that the goal might barely be reached, showing a 51-49% split in favor of men. The Paris Olympics feature slightly more medal events for men, although 28 out of 32 sports are 'fully gender equal', with mixed-gender team events strongly promoted.

Countries like the United States lead in gender representation, with women comprising 53% of their delegation. In contrast, six nations, including Qatar and Somalia, have no registered female athletes. The trend towards gender inclusivity marks significant progress since women first competed in the Olympics.

(With inputs from agencies.)