ASOIF’s 2023 “Women Lead Sports” course takes off on International Women’s Day

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, celebrated worldwide on 8 March, ASOIF has kicked off its third edition of the “Women Lead Sports” online programme, run by professional coach Gabriela Mueller. Over the next few weeks, more than 35 women representing over 20 sports and coming from more than 20 different countries across all continents will receive training to advance their leadership skills. The participants will develop self-awareness of their leadership style, progress in their communication and negotiation skills, discuss Do’s and Don’ts in electoral years, how to lead in male-dominated environments and much more. They will also receive individual advice and coaching.

The aim of the course is to empower potential female leaders to serve in elective positions of their respective International Federation (IF), Continental Association or National Federation (NF), thereby increasing the number of women in leadership positions across the Olympic Movement.

Sabrina Ibáñez, Chair of the ASOIF Diversity and Gender Equality Consultative Group and Secretary General of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), said:

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #EmbracingEquity, which is at the heart of all diversity and inclusion initiatives like the Women Lead Sports course.

Equality has been likened to giving everyone the same pair of shoes, while equity is giving everyone a pair of shoes that fits. And the Women Lead Sports courses have been created with equity in mind, so that every participant is given the tools to build their unique leadership skills set and authentic style.  

When we embrace equity, we encourage and develop diversity and inclusion, which is what is needed to keep sport sustainable.

ASOIF’s Fourth Review of IF Governance (2022) revealed that IF Executive Boards still mainly consisted of males but there was evidence of some progress towards gender balance. It will still take some time to close this gap but pragmatic support like ASOIF’s leadership training, now in its third year, has had tangible impact. To date more than 130 participants were selected by ASOIF member federations and graduated from the programme. Following the training, many of them were promoted or elected Presidents or Board members of NFs. Some also won elections for positions on IF Executive Boards or Councils.

This year’s participants cover a wide spectrum of profiles, including Presidents, Board members and Secretaries General of NFs, Athletes’ Commission members and safeguarding officers of IFs. Stay tuned for updates on the participants’ experiences!