Global Tribute to Women & Girls in Sports: “Overpower. Overtake. Overcome” Exhibition Wraps Up in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa – On 9th July, Southern African activists, advocates, academics, and government leaders from the world of sport, education, health, the private sector, social justice, and women’s rights convened to launch the groundbreaking “Overpower. Overtake. Overcome: A Visual Tribute to Women & Sport” exhibition at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.

Organized by the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport in partnership with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Sports for Social Change Network Africa (SSCN Africa), UN Women, UNESCO, OHCHR, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and Bobbi Brown, the exhibition featured powerful photographs selected from over 130 submissions worldwide.

These images, created by amateur and professional photographers, sports enthusiasts, and women’s rights activists, “showcased a stunning collection of images that captures the essence of our interconnected world through women and girls in sport,” CEO of SSCN Africa, Allan Williams, explained.  “It celebrated the power of women and girls telling their compelling stories through images.”

The exhibition showcased the resilience, strength, and determination of women and girls in the world of sport.

The exhibition’s launch was strategically timed to coincide with Nelson Mandela Month and the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the first Olympics to achieve gender parity. The event featured a keynote address from Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike of the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities who highlighted that her department welcomed this positive development and added that “this is a steppingstone we must continue with to ensure that gender parity is reached everywhere.”  She highlighted that “gender parity remains an ideal for which we all have the responsibility to champion. Humanity will never advance in any sphere as so far as women are continued to be restricted to the margins of society.”   Deputy Minister Letsike was joined by prominent women’s rights advocates, health advocates, athletes, and sports personalities. Panelists, including the indomitable Desiree Ellis, Coach of the South African National Women’s Football Team, emphasized the critical yet often untapped potential of physical education, physical activity, and sport (PEPAS) in advancing women’s health, rights, and empowerment.

The event included two significant panel discussions exploring the intersection of gender, race, media, and sports. The first panel, “Shifting the Lens: Media Representation and the Portrayal of Women and Girls in Sports,” highlighted the persistent underrepresentation of women’s sports in the media. Esteemed panelists, including Lwandile Simelane, the first vice-president of SASCOC, Desiree Ellis and freelance journalist Karien Jonckheere, discussed the media’s role in shaping public perceptions and the necessity for equitable coverage to advance gender equality.

The second panel, “Safe Spaces in Sports: PEPAS and the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence,” addressed the pressing issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in sports. Experts like Professor Cora Burnett and Dr. Jon Hunter-Parsonage from the School of Hard Knocks underscored the need for comprehensive strategies to combat GBV and create safe, inclusive environments for women and girls in sports. Dr. Hunter-Parsonage stated that “the discussions by the panel, and the audience contribution, were an important indication that sport, which should be a safe space, and a means for societal change, is still battling to ensure the protections that women and girls should be entitled to. But by supporting the dedicated and fearless voices that were heard from the audience, this can change, and can change quickly.”

The panel discussions highlighted sports’ potential to challenge societal norms and promote gender equality.

“Competitive sport is not necessarily a safe space for girls and women. There is ample evidence that coaches and others in positions of power engaged in harmful practices by physically and/or psychologically abuse athletes in their care,” adds Professor Burnett.

The exhibition’s impact extended beyond Johannesburg, with plans for displays in Geneva and Dakar later in the year. The top 20 winning photos are available in a virtual exhibition accessible globally, allowing people worldwide to engage with the powerful narratives and foster a global dialogue on gender equality in sports.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics begin, the “Overpower. Overtake. Overcome” exhibition serves as a potent reminder of the strides made and the work still needed to achieve true gender equality in sports. The powerful visuals and compelling discussions from the exhibition have inspired a renewed commitment to empowering women and girls through sport, advocating for their rights, and amplifying their voices.

Kreena Govender, Head of Institutional Policy & Partnerships at the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport concluded that “the ‘Overpower, Overtake, Overcome’ photo competition and exhibition stands as a powerful testament to activism, solidarity, and shared goals.

These evocative images, illustrating the struggles and victories of women and girls across various spheres, including sports, serve as a vivid reminder of the need to turn words into tangible action. “

The Johannesburg exhibition provided a springboard to amplify the call and spark off a global movement dedicated to overcoming obstacles and celebrating the triumphs of women in sports. Initiatives like this bring the vision of a more equitable and empowering world for women and girls in sports closer to reality.