Leadership, coaching and governance in sport, physical activity and physical education set-tings is a key challenge. Representing sporting organizations, clubs, inter-governmental organizations and research centers, panellists will offer insights from around the world, present cutting-edge insights into the sporing landscape and highlight innovative approaches to improving outcomes for women and girls within these settings. Discussions will include the role of male allies in equity. How to develop an understanding of the role of data in monitoring and advancing gender equality for women and girls’ leadership, coaching and governance will be central to the session which will call on novel insights from industry experts, case-studies and research.

Safeguarding, gender-based violence and violence against women and girls are facing new trends in sport + environment. How do forms of violence present themselves in sport settings? What are the implications for all women and girls, coaches, families and sporting federations, and society? How to understand physical activity and physical education spaces? How to encourage discussion in informal leisure activities beyond formalized and elite sporting contexts? These are among the questions to address through an intersectional lens. Panelists will be prompted to consider and. And to go concretely from research to action, panelists will discuss issues of responsibility and accountability, encourage discussion in informal leisure activities beyond formalized and elite sporting contexts the building of effective partnerships, as well as the transition from research to practice.

Adolescence, motherhood, menopause, are all stages in the lives of women that make them rethink, consciously or not, their relationship with sport and physical activity. Menstruation, and its impact on the practice of sport, are another of the determining factors in the relationship between women and sport. Awareness on these topics remains low in many sporting contexts. sport federations, NGOs, coaches, participants, researchers and policy makers need all to be equipped with specific information and strategies on how best to create more inclusive environments across life stages.

This session will highlight forms of inequality and marginalization in sport and physical activity contexts and will offer insights in how to build capacity and work with communities to develop more inclusive sport, physical activity and leisure opportunities.
Most sport and physical activity participation falls outside of the competitive and elite domains, where participation is often in social, community and informal and recreational settings. How does identity markers (such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, disability) impact sport participation? How can practitioners overcome obstacles and draw from community design principles to meet community needs and preferences? 

Mega-sporting events such as the Olympics 2024, FIFA 2023 World Cup and the Euros 2025, offer host cities an exciting opportunity to not only to showcase sporting achievements but also to use sports events as catalysts for change. There are many factors that impact gender equal-ity outcomes before, during and after such events. Media and sponsorship, legacy plans, financing models and economic costs, human rights practices and geopolitical relationships all have implications for women and girls not only competing in such events but trickle into all areas of sport, physical activity and physical education engagement. Mega sporting events can be an opportunity to advance gender equality, and an occasion for host cities to address challenges that emerge from the field.

The closing remarks of the conference will summarize the significant talking points from the day, focusing on the role of delegates attending the conference to move research to action.  The call to action will invite researchers, policy makers, governments, practitioners and the sport sector to work together to advance gender equality in sport contexts.