Paulina Quintao – Despite high participation rates, there continues to be lack of promotion around women in sport, according to the Coordinator of the Commission for Women in Sport, Filomena Reis.

She said women in Timor-Leste were involved in 24 different sports, including badminton, volleyball, basketball, marathon, karate and taekwondo.

"The media, women and everyone talk about and promote women's participation in all areas, but they forget women in sport. I am so sad to see that," said Reis at her office in Dili.

Although many female athletes had competed successfully overseas, she said most received little recognition for their achievements. She said the commission was planning to have an exhibition about women in sport in order to encourage more women to participate.

She is also concerned that Timorese athletes did not have an adequate training center or access to a nutritious diet. "In some competitions the trainers set up a place for them to prepare, but after the competition they (athletes) just go back to their homes," she said.

President of Commission F (for Health, Education, Culture, Veteran Affairs, Gender Equality and Sports affairs) MP Virgilio da Costa Hornai said sport was about talent rather than gender.

"It is a talent and men or women can have it," he said. He therefore encouraged talented women across the country to get involved in sport.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/13708-more-promotion-needed-to-encourage-women-in-sport