Myanmar hosts ASEAN forum for promotion of women participation in sports

The ASEAN Forum for Promotion of Women Participation in Sports was held virtually yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw. The forum was hosted by Myanmar as part of a series of events to promote the participation of women and girls in the ASEAN regional sports sector, one of the five activities that Myanmar has included as a leading country in the ASEAN Work Plan and Sports 2021-2025.
The forum was attended by Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan, Deputy Minister U Myo Hlaing, departmental officials, representatives from ASEAN nations and regions/states, officials from the Myanmar Olympic Committee and SOMS, and invitees.
While addressing the forum, the Union minister said this is the first time Myanmar hosts such an event, adding the importance of women’s participation in sports and the necessity to develop systematic plans to increase the participation of women in the sports sector. Efforts are being made to develop programmes and strategies at the national level by establishing friendship between ASEAN and Myanmar in future sports activities, especially women’s sports cooperation, the Union Minister said.
Afterwards, Vice-President of the Myanmar Women Sports Federation Daw Yi Yi Win discussed “Women in Sports in Myanmar”; Lecturer at the Thailand National Sports University (Chiang Mai Campus) Ms Pacharakamon Arkornsakul discussed “Suggestion for Increasing Female Sports Participation in Thailand”; Principal of Sports and Physical Education Institute (Loikaw) Daw Soe Soe Myar, Department of Sports and Physical Education, discussed “Women Lead Women at Administrative Role in Sports”; Member of Women and Sports Committee, Malaysian Olympic Council, Ms Nurul Huda Abdullah discussed “Women in Sports: Malaysia’s Journey to Action”.
In the afternoon programme of the forum, Professor from Dagon University Dr Sein Nyo Nyo Ko discussed “Women’s Participation in Sports in Higher Education”; Mr Asahi Takano from the Portas Consulting and Head of the Asia Pacific office and Mr Jhoshan Jothilingam from the International Government and Business Expert (Portas) discussed “2021 ASEAN Sports Participation Study”.
Vice-President of the Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities Professor Dr Than Than Htay discussed “Women Participation in Paralympic Sports”; Senior Officer of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports, ASEAN Secretariat, Ms Larastilndrawagit discussed “Outcomes of ASEAN-Japan Action on Sports Project: Policy Workshop on Gender Equality in Sports and ASEAN #WeScore Campaign”.
Attendees at the forum raised questions on the discussions, and the Deputy Secretary General from the ASEAN Secretariat and the Director-General of the Sports and Physical Education Department gave concluding remarks. — MNA