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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1409 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1409

    Recognizing the great strides made by the majority of countries 
participating in the Summer Olympic Games to increase the participation 
  of women in sports and in the Summer Olympic Games, calling on the 
  International Olympic Committee and all countries to take concrete 
steps to increase the participation of women in the 2012 Summer Olympic 
                     Games, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 1, 2008

 Ms. DeLauro (for herself, Ms. Sutton, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Maloney of New 
York, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Honda, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Fattah) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Recognizing the great strides made by the majority of countries 
participating in the Summer Olympic Games to increase the participation 
  of women in sports and in the Summer Olympic Games, calling on the 
  International Olympic Committee and all countries to take concrete 
steps to increase the participation of women in the 2012 Summer Olympic 
                     Games, and for other purposes.

Whereas the Olympic Charter states that ``any form of discrimination with regard 
        to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender 
        or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement'';
Whereas the Olympic Charter states that the role of the International Olympic 
        Committee (IOC) is ``to encourage and support the promotion of women in 
        sports at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing 
        the principle of equality of men and women'';
Whereas on March 10, 2008, at the 4th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, 
        held in the Kingdom of Jordan, ``The Dead Sea Plan of Action'' was 
        adopted, expressing ``the need to use every opportunity available in the 
        Olympic Movement to advance the cause of women in sport and through 
        sport'';
Whereas there were no women participants at the first modern Olympic Games in 
        1896, but by 2004 women were on delegations from all but nine of the 201 
        countries participating in the Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas the number of women athletes participating in the Summer Olympic Games 
        exceeded 4,000 for the first time at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and 
        in 2008 will set a new record of over 4,400, or 42 percent of the total 
        number of athletes participating in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas women will compete in 26 of 28 sports and 45 percent of the events at 
        the 2008 Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Robina Muqimyar, who ran the 100 
        meters, and Friba Razayee, who competed in judo, became the first women 
        from Afghanistan to compete in the Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas Dana Al-Nasrallah, who ran the 100 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympic 
        Games, became the first woman from Kuwait to compete in the Summer 
        Olympic Games;
Whereas the United Arab Emirates encourages the participation of women in 
        sports, and Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al 
        Maktoum, who will compete in taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, 
        will become the first woman from the United Arab Emirates to compete in 
        the Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen are the only countries not 
        sending women athletes to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas participating in sports can help young women increase self-esteem and 
        prepare for leadership roles in society; and
Whereas removing barriers to the participation of women in sports creates a more 
        inclusive society and promotes equal rights for all citizens: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the great strides made by the majority of 
        countries participating in the Summer Olympic Games to increase 
        the participation of women in the Summer Olympic Games and 
        sports in general;
            (2) applauds the many countries with policies that enable 
        the participation of women in sports to coexist with 
        traditional cultural and religious practices;
            (3) calls on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to 
        advocate for improved opportunities for women to participate in 
        sports, and to work with all countries to provide financial 
        support and adequate facilities for women athletes; and
            (4) urges the IOC and all countries to increase efforts to 
        enhance the participation of women in sports both domestically 
        and internationally, to strive to make the 2012 Summer Olympic 
        Games the first at which women are on delegations from every 
        participating country, and to ensure a new record number of 
        women competitors at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
                                 <all>
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