Mother and daughter from Yukon heading to Paris Olympics to work and watch

Moira Lassen is a familiar name not just in the Yukon, but also on the international stage.

The mother of former 2008 Olympic weightlifter Jeane Lassen, Moira is heading to the Olympic Games in Paris later this week as a technical delegate. 

She began working in the male-dominated sport of weightlifting a long time ago, she said, after following her daughter into the world of sports.

She said it was fitting that her daughter will join her in Paris as a spectator at the games. 

"She's a great ambassador for the Yukon and Canada," Moira said of her daughter. 

Moira is the first female technical delegate for the sport of weightlifting at the Olympic Games. In her role, she will be the go-between for the organizing committee, the federation, and the International Olympics Committee (IOC). 

The women's category of weightlifting was first included at Sydney 2000, while's the men's weightlifting has been included since 1920.

Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee announced that Paris 2024 would be the first to have the same number of female and male athletes in the weight-lifting category. 

Moira said she's glad that equal representation was part of the IOC's strategic plan.

"We [Jeane and I] were .. at the cutting edge of women coming in [to weightlifting] and it's great to see."  

Moira's role will also include responsibilities such as making sure the transportation, food services, technical and other various standards are met.

Jeane made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 where she finished fifth in her category. The Paris 2024 Games will be Jeane's fifth Olympics to be in attendance for.

She said it's incredible to see so many women and girls participating as athletes from the grassroots level to the highest stages.

"I get to go to communities in the Yukon and connect with kids and people in First Nations organizations … and just the ability to go and tell the kids it's not just about lifting the weights, it's about participating and being willing to try ... and really not about what you achieve, but what you overcome."

Jeane also said it's about what a person does to stay connected with community, and that the power of sports is not about the medal but what it does for a person throughout their life. 

The two will be in Paris starting on Thursday and will also attend the closing ceremonies.