Sports should emulate Biden and put faith in women

This is not a big year for anything. Not that we had planned an entire overhaul of our leadership systems, or  expected to finally fully attain gender equality and equity globally.

Still, 2020 has left us all startled. This was the year we found out that a previously unknown virus can spill over into the human population in one country, pass rapidly between people, and spread across the world in days, leading to the death of more than 1.5 million people thus far.

We also learnt that money and power are great things to have, but in the grand scheme of things, we are all mortal. Our bodies respond similarly to diseases, and no amount of money can buy a cure for something like Covid-19, because there is none.

Closure of schools and social places, quarantine loneliness and restrictions on movement made 2020 an incredibly tough year for everyone. But they say every cloud, no matter how dark, has a silver lining. I saw glimpses of this lining early this week when US president elect Joe Biden appointed an all-woman team in the communications department.

There’s no sports angle to that, but it touches very closely on the issue of gender inclusivity. Debate has been raging following Biden’s announcement, with many praising his appointments as “progressive” while others criticised him for destroying the old boys’ club.

For me, the best part about this particular debate is that for once, the shoe is on the other foot. In this new normal, it is the men complaining of neglect.

Additionally, I feel invigorated to know that those were not just high-gloss, low intellect appointments. Each of these women earned their place on the table, and each of them has power to make things move or stop.

That’s why this debate is important. To tackle the existing disparities and unlock the fullest potential of women in sports, we need to take note of Biden’s model. His recent appointments, as well as the selection of Kamala Harris as running mate, make a compelling case for building on targeted gender-specific policy of best international practice. The good news? We get a front row seat to see the kind of performance women can put up.

If this is the next normal, I am ready for it. A normal where qualified women are placed in influential positions and judged only by the quality of their output.  A normal where  the experiences of former footballers, advocates and other change agents are harnessed and included in the creation of an even more elaborate roadmap to gender equity in sport.

I sense a similar change in our sports governance someday. Already we have incredible women like Fatma Samoura at the top. How long it will take to pull up more women is up to us.

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