ORANJESTAD (AAN) – The Aruba Paralympic Committee (APC), together with the Americas Paralympic Committee, organized the fourth edition of the “Women in Para Sports Americas Aruba Summit” during the past weekend.
The important three-day summit brought together participants from across the Pan-American region, with more than 50 women attending to discuss key topics related to inclusivity in sports at all levels.
During the summit, several important topics were discussed through expert panel sessions, including participation from Aruba Olympic Committee (COA) Secretary General Nicole Hoevertsz. She joined the panel titled “Leading Global Change: Advancing Women in Sports Across Systems.”
Nicole Hoevertsz is an internationally recognized sports leader and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as well as a member of the executive committee of PanAm Sports. She currently chairs the Coordination Commission for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As a strong advocate for gender equality and inclusion, Hoevertsz continues working to advance women’s leadership and expand opportunities for underrepresented communities in sports.
Being a woman from a small Caribbean island influencing global sports decisions reflects the growing importance of diverse voices in shaping the future of sports worldwide.
Together with other panelists such as Minister of Sports Gerlien Croes and APC President Shardea Croes, Hoevertsz discussed with international guests the importance of leading change globally and promoting inclusivity in sports, not only for athletes but also for coaches and leadership positions.
The panel recognized that positive progress is being made, but continued development and empowerment are still necessary to create equal opportunities for everyone within the sports world.
The organizers of the summit were praised for creating an event with significant value that will continue serving as a platform to empower and develop leaders within the community who will fight for equal sports opportunities for all.
