By Sheila Robertson.

At the higher levels of international sport, much has been written (and some lip service paid) about the importance of gender equality. But words without action are worthless, and sport remains far from a level playing field for millions of girls and women around the world. WE are therefore encouraged by the actions of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for its recently launched Gender Equality Strategy (GES), which covers many areas of relevance to girls and women throughout the Commonwealth.

Particularly interesting to Journal readers will be the prominence given to initiatives intended to benefit women coaches, from aspirants to experienced, through an innovative coaching internship program coinciding with the 2018 Commonwealth Games. We will monitor the progress of this bold undertaking, hoping for its success and hoping also that other world sporting bodies take notice and emulate the CGF. (Disclosure, CGF Vice-President Bruce Robertson, the author of the GES, and I are married). − Sheila Robertson, Journal editor

Read the full article in the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching.