When the modern Olympic Games were first held in 1896, not a single woman was allowed to compete. The International Olympic Committee did not promote gender equality in sports for its first fifty years, but it gradually began changing its views on the topic and followed the lead of many progressive countries that were starting to view women as equal in almost all spheres of life. This attitude has led to a positive trend in which women are becoming more involved in sports, especially evident at the Olympic level. Over time, as women gained more rights in other areas of their lives, this followed with more rights in areas regarding participation in sports. Not all countries have the same policies regarding women’s participation, but it can be said that women participation in sport has signi