Morana Palikovic Gruden, Vice President of the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC), was awarded the IOC 2019 IOC Women and Sport Trophy Gender Equality advocates for Europe, at the United Nations headquarters (UN) in New York City (US) on 19 March.

In partnership with UN Women, this award is given to women, one for each continent, who distinguished for their advocacy and leadership in promoting girls and women’s participation in sport at all levels.

Morana, who is a Member of the EOC Gender Equality in Sport Commission since 2005, is the winner for Europe.

A former athlete in several sports, a journalist and politician, she has been active in the promotion and advancement of gender equality in sport and increasing women’s holding of managerial positions at national and local level.

She serves also as Chair of the Winter Sports Committee of the COC Assembly and President of the Croatian Skating Federation.

Under her leadership, the COC “Gender Equality in Sport Commission”, has reached many important goals, including the implementation of a national specialised education project for women in sport, as well as a National Gender Equality Policy from 2011 to 2015, containing a chapter on action plans and measures for the promotion of women’s position in sport.

Among other achievements, she has created the ‘Female Coordinators Network in National Federations and country sports associations’, as well as led the European project ‘SUCCESS’, aimed at providing women with necessary competences to support gender balance and equality in decision-making in sport structures.

Mrs Gruden organised ‘Golden Spin’, the oldest and only international skating competition of its kind.

She also oversaw the 2008 and 2013 European Figure Skating Championships and two World Synchronised Skating Championships. With the International Skating Union (ISU), she contributes to the training of young referees and coaches in figure skating, synchronised and speed skating.

The World Winner is Chinese Po Chun Liu (World Baseball Softball Confederation). While the continental trophies were awarded to:

• for Africa, Djatougbe Noameshie (Togo)
• for the Americas, Comisión Mujer y deporte de Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
• for Asia, Ms Saada Al-Ismaili (Oman)
• for Oceania, Vanuatu Volleyball Federation (Vanuatu)

For more information on the 2019 IOC Women and Sport Trophy click here