Michelle Kwan and Entertainment Icon Frank Marshall Co-Chair World Conference on Women and Sports

Los Angeles (April 28, 2011) – The Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG) today announced Michelle Kwan, the most decorated U.S. figure skater in history, and Hollywood producer Frank Marshall have been appointed to serve as organizing committee co-chairs of the 5th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sport 2012 Conference. The event takes place February, 2012.

"It’s an honor to co-chair and participate in such an important international event," said two-time Olympic medalist and five-time world champion, Michelle Kwan. "Historically, this conference has played a meaningful role in identifying ways to improve and increase participation of women in the world of sport around the globe. Women athletes are making progress; for the very first time, the 2012 Olympic Games in London will showcase women competing in every sport on the program. I look forward to this conference and to the continued advancement of women in sports."

"Women continue to make great strides in achieving leadership roles, in many industries such as entertainment and business," said Frank Marshall, Amblin Entertainment co-founder (along with his wife Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg) and former vice president and treasurer of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). "However, a gender gap persists particularly in the upper echelon of sport management positions. The Conference will bring together women and men from around the world to explore ways to change this dynamic."

Marking the first time that this quadrennial conference is hosted in the United States, the theme of next year’s event is ‘Together Stronger: The Future of Sport.’

"This year’s theme is indicative of the positive evolution in the promotion of girls and women in sport, especially during the last two decades," said Anita DeFrantz, chair of the IOC Women and Sport Commission. "Michelle Kwan and Frank Marshall are two of the most prominent figures in sport and entertainment. We’re delighted they will be able to contribute their distinct experience and expertise to support the continued progress of the participation of girls and women in sports activities."

SCCOG, in partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), will be responsible for the organization and staging of the three day event. IOC President Jacques Rogge is scheduled to attend the conference, which historically has attracted 600 plus delegates from the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), representing the NOCs, International Sports Federations (IFS), the government of the host nation, the United Nations system, universities, non-governmental organizations and other experts.

"Over the years, Los Angeles has hosted innumerable sporting events of world importance, including the Olympic Games in both 1984 and 1932," said Barry Sanders, chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. "We are proud to serve the Olympic Movement again and welcome to our city this most significant global conference on women and sport."

Previous IOC World Conference on Women and Sport conferences were held in Lausanne, Switzerland (1996), Paris, France (2000), Marrakech, Morocco (2004) and at the Dead Sea, Jordan (2008). The Los Angeles Conference will commence on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California and will conclude on Saturday, February 18, 2012.

Michelle Kwan is a U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy and a member of President Obama’s President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Frank Marshall has received five Oscar nominations as a producer for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;" "Seabiscuit;" "The Sixth Sense;" "The Color Purple:’ and, "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Among other projects, he is currently directing a documentary about Olympian Johann Olav Koss entitled "Right to Play."

The following is a partial list of the organizing committee for the 5th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sport 2012 Conference.

Co-Chair: Michelle Kwan, Figure Skating Champion

Co-Chair: Frank Marshall, Entertainment Icon

Aileen Adams, Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles

Rhonda Brauer, Burson-Marsteller

Kate Bristow, M&C Saatchi

Jeanie Buss, Los Angeles Lakers

Lemuel Daniels, Deutsche Bank

Antonia Hernandez, California Community Foundation

Timothy J. Leiweke, AEG

Mark Liberman, L.A. Inc.

Cynthia McClain-Hill, Strategic Counsel, PLC

Maidie Oliveau, Arent Fox LLP

Barry Sanders, Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games

David Simon, Los Angeles Sports Council

Kathy Schloessman, L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission

Christopher Sullivan, United States Olympic Committee

For more information, contact: www.seeuthere.com/2012womenandsport.

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