JOA Endorses IOC Decision to Increase Women’s Football Participants at LA28

JOA president, Christopher Samuda with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and former national French football and Paris Saint-Germain player, Candice Prevost, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The Jamaica Olympic Association, JOA, has endorsed the recent decision of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, to increase the number of teams in women’s football for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games to sixteen.

JOA President, Christopher Samuda, said “the writing was on the wall and has been, for years, a part of the Olympic script for gender parity and when you consider that the qualifying teams for men may be reduced to twelve then the mandate becomes clearer than through a glass and the goal has not only been achieved but has been scored.”

The popularity of female football continues to increase in the United States and the decision of the IOC is perhaps symptomatic of this and indicative of a levelling of the playfield.

JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster, said “IOC’s decision is more than a trend. It’s reflecting a way of life in global sports and I believe it’s impact will have a domino effect on other sports which are already breaking ground and putting down roots of gender equity.”

The historic election of Kirsty Coventry to the IOC seat of power underscores the movement’s advocacy for women in sport which has not escaped President Samuda.