Women first took part in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. On that occasion, there were 22 women, from a total of 997 athletes, competing in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, horse riding and golf.

The number of women competing in the Games has increased since the 1970s, with the growing awareness of the role of women around the world.

Factsheet : Women in the Olympic Movement
The Women and Sport Commission