His Majesty the King has appointed professor emerita Kari Fasting as a Knight 1st class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for her efforts for equality and human dignity in sport.
Kari Fasting has been employed as a professor at the Norwegian Sports Academy for 40 years. As professor emerita, she is still active as a researcher and lecturer. PHOTO: \ Gjermund Erikstein Midtbø
His Majesty the King has appointed professor emerita Kari Fasting as a Knight 1st class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for her efforts for equality and human dignity in sport.
PUBLISHED \ TEXT: CHRISTENSEN, KAREN
“From the 1960s until today, Kari Fasting has been a leading woman in the fight for equality and human dignity in sport, both nationally and internationally. This is also the reason why she was nominated for this award from the Norwegian Sports Academy and WomenSport International.
From 1972 until she retired in 2013, Kari Fasting was employed at the Norwegian College of Sports, where she was also the college’s first rector from 1989 to 1994.
– Her commitment and efforts as rector, head of department, research leader, professor and educator over more than 40 years have been invaluable to NIH’s development as an international educational and research institution. By virtue of her work, she is an important role model who promotes equality in academia and inspires students and colleagues to put gender and equality on the agenda, says NIH’s Rector Lars Tore Ronglan.
Significant efforts for a fairer and violence-free sport
Kari Fasting’s commitment to equality and the prevention of harassment and abuse in sport has been of great importance. Her work as a mentor, researcher, course instructor and spokesperson has played a decisive role in changing political guidelines and norms towards a fairer and violence-free sport. As a member of the women’s committee in NIF, she was, among other things, a driving force in the process that resulted in a new law on gender representation in sports bodies.
In addition to her involvement in sport, Kari Fasting has also worked closely with the Norwegian Armed Forces. Her knowledge and research have been important for the Norwegian Armed Forces’ work to prevent and combat bullying and sexual harassment.
International contributions
She has also shared her expertise internationally, with important contributions in organizations such as Safe Sport International, the International Women’s Group Conference for Women in Sport (IWG) and WomenSport International (WSI), where she was president from 2003 to 2010. Kari Fasting has had advisory status in the UN, and she has collaborated with UNESCO, UNICEF and UN Women on issues of equality and gender-based violence in sport.
Kari Fasting’s international influence also extends to collaborations with several countries, including the Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and the African Union Sports Council, where she has promoted equality and prevention of abuse based on her research and knowledge. She has recently been appointed to sit on the International Biathlon Union’s gender equality working group. Her expertise has also been used by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to develop policies, strategies and programs to combat violence, harassment and abuse.
Knowledge development for a better sporting world
Within academia, Kari Fasting has played a central role in research on gender and equality, and she is recognized as a world-leading expert in the field. Her extensive publications and lectures at international conferences have contributed to important knowledge development.
Kari Fasting has received a number of international awards, including honorary doctorates at the universities of Bern, Malmö and Chichester (UK), as well as honorary membership in several international research associations. In 2014, she was awarded the prestigious Fair Play Award during the Finnish Sports Gala.
Her influence also extends to the education of young people nationally and globally, and her guidance has laid the foundations for a more equal and inclusive sports world.
– Kari Fasting’s life’s work has left a significant mark, and she has been a key person in promoting knowledge, awareness and action to develop a more equal sport all over the world. The appointment to the Order of St. Olav is recognition of her significant contribution to society and the world of sport, says president of WomenSport International, Diane Hoffman.
Handover
The decoration will be presented at an event at Norway’s Sports Academy on Tuesday 12 September at 2:30 p.m.
Appointment to the Order of St. Olav – The Norwegian Royal House”