Building a caring and sharing ASEAN community through sports
Author: Ekkaphab Phanthavong
Despite Covid-19 restrictions, the Tokyo 2020 Games were held successfully last summer despite difficulties attributable to the prolonged pandemic. It proved that sport has not lost its ability to unite global communities within the spirit of sportsmanship and unity, and sent a message of perseverance, hope and resilience.
Apart from spreading positive vibes and messages, the Tokyo 2020 Games also gave us positive energy and gave us a respite from all of the negative news. It was a very historic moment for ASEAN as all three Olympic gold medals were won by female athletes: Indonesian badminton team Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu, Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and Thai taekwondo player Panipak Wongpattanakit. However, on the Paralympic Games, roughly 30% of all medals won by ASEAN countries were won by para-athletes.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are probably the most gender-balanced Games since their inception. This 12 months, women make up 48.8% of the 11,000 Olympic athletes, up from 45.6% in 2016 and 44.2% in 2012. All this happened despite all of the adversities and restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic influencing the socio-economic development of the world.
ASEAN is committed to providing full access to opportunities that help women and girls develop and actively take part in all decisions that impact constructing their livelihoods and independence:including in sports. Building on this momentum, as long-standing dialogue partners, ASEAN and Japan join hand in hand to advertise gender equality inside and outside Sports.
This began back in 2017, when ASEAN and Japan established priorities for cooperation in sports and agreed to work together to extend the participation of ladies and girls in sports and support sports for individuals with disabilities, including: in the sunshine of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
On December 3 last 12 months, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the ASEAN Secretariat hosted a virtual ASEAN talk show #WeRating.
This event is a component of a Japanese-funded campaign ASEAN #WeRating, with the participation of ten designated women as sports ambassadors: Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah (Brunean athlete in polo), Sokha Pov (Cambodian athlete of traditional martial arts), Leani Ratri Oktila (Indonesian para-badminton athlete, Tokyo gold and silver medalist 2020 Paralympic Games), Soulamphone Kerdla (Coach of Laos PDR National Swimming Team), Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (Malaysian Gymnast), Soe Soe Myar (Taekwondo Player and Referee from Myanmar), Hidilyn Diaz (Filipino Weightlifter), Amita Berthier (Singaporean Fencer) , Panikpak Wongpattanakit (Thai taekwondo athlete) and Tuyet Van Chau (Vietnamese taekwondo athlete).
Designated as role models by their countries, the ambassadors’ lineup demonstrates the worth of inclusion and variety in sport: male- and female-dominated sports, modern and traditional sports and – the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
We have known for a few years that female athletes world wide proceed to experience gender discrimination and even violence. Returning to the share of ladies within the region, low recognition of the social values related to the participation and achievements of ladies and girls in sport, in addition to doubts about women’s leadership and negotiation skills to take a number one role within the sports sector, may decelerate our development of the sports industry as a complete.
Representation matters. So, the extraordinary achievements and leadership of our ten sports ambassadors of their respective fields is something that ASEAN strives to amplify to encourage and connect people across the region, including youth, in some ways. Using sport to lift awareness and educate society about gender equality, inclusion and resilience is something the region should and can strive to realize.
Drawing from conversations with ten sports ambassadors, ASEAN must think beyond the achievements of ladies and girls in sports activities and competitions. Attention to women’s leadership and profession paths in sports institutions, their safety and security, in addition to stronger support for para-sport platforms are measures the region will take to maintain our athletes motivated and capable of develop despite all uncertainties.
Over the following five years, the ASEAN sports sector will strengthen cooperation towards a vibrant ASEAN community where sports develop equitably and function an important technique of supporting socio-cultural development and promoting peace, according to the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2021-2025.
As stated by the Sports Ministers within the 2013 Vientiane Declaration on Sports Cooperation in ASEAN, the region’s cooperation in sports should be strengthened to appreciate the vision of the ASEAN Community to shape a typical regional identity and construct a caring and sharing society.
————
Ekkaphab Phanthavong is the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
[end]
