The 4th International Olympic Committee (IOC) World Conference on Women and Sport opened its doors on Saturday to more than 500 delegates from 150 countries at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre under the patronage of Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania.

IOC President Jacques Rogge presented King Abdullah an award in appreciation for his continuing support for women's sports.

The March 8-10 event, jointly organised by the IOC and the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC), was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Feisal, president of the JOC.

The event, “Sport as a Vehicle for Social Change”, is attended by a host of presidents of international federations and Olympic committees, including former Olympic medallists Anita deFrantz and Nawal El Moutawakel.

National Olympic committees from six continents will be in attendance, as well as many representatives from cities hosting and bidding for major sporting events in the future.

Jordan has been at the forefront of promoting the issue of women's participation in sports, and Prince Feisal is a member of the IOC Women and Sport Commission.

The conference opened with a cultural extravaganza and the presentation of the annual IOC Women and Sport Award, attended by King Abdullah. The ceremony will be followed by two days of presentations, discussion and plenary sessions covering a host of topics concerned with the issue of women and sports.

The first and youngest Minister of Youth and Sports in Malaysia, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, won the 2008 IOC Women's and Sport Award.

Azalina was honoured for boosting the number of women practising sports in Malaysia. Last year, the award was won by Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for the work she has done within her own country.

Five continental trophies also were presented to women who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening the participation of women and girls in sports around the world.

The event will also cover several key issues, such as women and the Olympic movement, challenging gender norms through sports, recognising the role of sports in development and integration, sports and business, and promoting equality of access at the community level.

In addition, several case studies from Australia and Ivory Coast will be discussed.

Meanwhile, Meeting the Challenges of Millennium Development Goals: the Contribution of Women and Girls session will be hosted by Her Royal Highness Princess Haya

The conference is set for rich discussions and will be broadcasted worldwide, courtesy of more than 100 accredited media.

In 2007, the IOC World Conference on Women and Sport was held in Morocco where 600 delegates from 137 countries and regions gathered under the theme “New Strategies, New Commitment”.