DEAD SEA, Jordan, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday held here the 4th World Conference on Women and Sport and revealed the winners of its 2008 Women and Sport Awards.
During the opening ceremony of the conference, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced that the World "Women and Sport" Trophy has been awarded to the first female and youngest Minister of Youth and Sports in Malaysia, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Azalina was honoured for boosting the number of women practicing sport in Malaysia -- and this just under four years since her appointment, said Jacque Rogge.
As well as the World Trophy, five continental trophies were presented to women who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening the participation of women and girls in sport around the world: Trophy for Africa: Ana Paula Dos Santos (Angola), Trophy for the Americas: Abby Hoffman (Canada), Trophy for Asia: Li Lingwei (China), Trophy for Europe: Stefka Kostadinova (Bulgaria) and Trophy for Oceania: Debbie Watson (Australia).
During the 3-day conference, more than 600 participants from across the globe will debate the topic "Sport as a vehicle for social change" and the role women and girls can play in this.
