L-R: Jung Yoo Yeon, Sari Mannersuo, Lori Okimura, Irene Chang, Spela Plesnik, Marie-Claude Richer, Krisztina Arpas, Amina Elsergany
When Lori Okimura assumed the put up as World Paravolley President in January 2024, she knew the form of imaginative and prescient she had for the best governing physique of the one in every of quickest rising Para sports activities.
“It’s crucial to make the most of our alternative to have gender steadiness,” Okimura mentioned.
As soon as the nominations for Worldwide Technical Officers to serve at Paris 2024 had been confirmed, Okimura was very happy to see many ladies taking over key tasks as vanguards of the Video games.
As Assistant Technical Delegate, Okimura (USA) made the journey to the French capital, together with Irene Chang (MAS) as jury member; Sari Mannersuo (FIN) and Jung Yoo Yeon (KOR) as referee observers; Louise Ashcroft (CAN) as medical delegate; Krisztina Arpas (HUN), Amina Elsergany (EGY), Spela Plesnik (SLO), and Marie-Claude Richer (CAN) as worldwide referees.
“To be the primary WPV president who’s a girl, and to see a Medical Director who’s a girl, a Media Director who’s a girl, a Advertising and marketing Director who’s a girl, that’s a extremely good signal for World Paravolley, that we’re on track. Our Athlete Council is led by a girl, Nicky Nieves. Our delegation right here in Paris has a few of the finest worldwide referees, together with our girls from all all over the world,” Okimura added.
Chang, who served as the primary feminine jury member in sitting volleyball’s Paralympic historical past throughout Rio 2016, was simply comfortable to have some firm.
“It’s simply great to have extra girls round me once I work, as a result of in Rio I used to be fairly lonely, being the one feminine ITO round.
“Now it’s enjoyable! And we empower extra girls,” mentioned Chang.
As destiny would have it, an all-female ITO roster made it to the ladies’s semifinal match between China and Canada on September 5.
Mannersuo served in that match and recommended the superb efficiency of the referees.
“Our feminine referees right here have completed a extremely good job. Completely! They’re a very good stage to be right here. They’re actually good referees. They’ve officiated many competitions,” she mentioned.
Jung shared the identical diploma of admiration for the referees and for her colleagues, as she mentioned: “It’s nice to be right here with Sari, who’s an incredible referee observer. It’s a primary in our profession so it’s actually an honor for me.”
“Hopefully we may have extra feminine referees within the Paralympics and different world-level competitions sooner or later,” Jung added.
Okimura will not be one to skip on credit score the place it’s due, as she honours the achievements of previous management and present colleagues.
“The lads are serving to us, the boys are main us in the suitable route. They’re giving us alternative, we’re giving ourselves alternative,” she mentioned.
Finally, Okimura underlines the intention to acknowledge the achievement of WPV’s present technology of feminine officers, as means to usher within the subsequent.
“I feel it’s not nearly specializing in placing girls in positions of energy. It’s about these girls who’ve earned their proper to be in these positions, so what can we do now to create alternatives for the subsequent group of ladies that are available,” Okimura mentioned.
Photograph: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.
