Cheerleading Working Toward Olympic Inclusion

A resident of Geneva, Illinois, Joanna Manaves joined Production Packaging in 1994 as an accounting manager and led efforts to integrate the company with Peacock Foods, where she presently serves as director of planning and materials management. Joanna Manaves learned leadership skills early, specifically during her time spent as captain of her high school's cheerleading team.

Cheerleading has yet to be included on the Olympic program, but there's a growing hope among cheerleaders and the sport's governing body that it might be sooner rather than later. In December of 2016, the International Olympic Committee granted cheerleading status as a provisional Olympic sport, meaning the International Cheer Union will receive funding and can apply to become an official Olympic sport. 

Fifteen other sports applied for provisional status, and the IOC previously voted to add skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing to the Tokyo Games in 2020. The IOC's sports director Kit McConnell noted the decision to grant cheerleading provisional status resulted from the sport's growing popularity and presence as a team sport in high schools and universities.