ENGSO has been a frontrunner in pushing for equality in and through sport for decades, building networks and projects, and organising events that promote equality and advocate for European sport policy that supports the efforts of the sports movement in reaching equality.
To ensure a strong commitment to reaching these objectives, the Equality Within Sport (EWS) Committee was created as a hub of expertise on equality. The mission of EWS is to activate and inspire European sport organisations to act on equality, through active advocacy work, education and awareness-raising, strengthening cooperation with ENGSO member organisations and other sport bodies.
EWS advocates that everyone can (should!) practise sport safely and freely by promoting opportunities in all levels and sectors of sport. Only by reaching equality, we can use the full potential in sport.
With the objective of accomplishing this mission, ENGSO initiated a new Action Plan for Equality in Sport. This plan has several phases and will be implemented thanks to the joint effort of all ENGSO bodies and members led by EWS.
In 2023, the participation of LGBTQI+ people in sport with focus on LBTQI+ women, is one of the key themes the action plan researchs and promotes
LGBTQI+ participation and representation in sport: the good practices that make a difference
Part of the #StandUp4Equality, this collection of good practice focuses on the fight against LGBTQI+ discriminations. It has been conceived to bring useful inspiration for sport organizations and policy makers to continue working on equality in sport.
Webinar: LGBTQI+ community – participation and experiences in sport
This online seminar presented the main findings of the research on the state of equality within the European sport sector commissioned by the EWS as part of the 2022 ENGSO Action Plan for Equality, with Sallie Barker (EWS Chair), Floriane Poncet-Rief (ENGSO Project and Equality Officer), and Tarja Krum (Sustainable Manager at the Swedish Sports Organisation in Finland, EWS member). The main findings were discussed with Liam Strasser (Specialist for gender diversity in sport at 100% SPORT – Austrian Center of Excellence for Gender Equality & SAFE SPORT, EWS member), and Noemí Fluixa (EGLSF board member).
The aim of the study was to collect up-to-date data that correlate with topics related to the LGBTQI+ community and its participation in sport
Beginning of the study: LBTQI+ Women in Sport
The results of the 2022 research commissioned by the EWS Committee clearly showed a lack of data on the participation of LBTQI+ women in sport in Europe. This year, a research is conducted on the status of equality within sport to deepen the knowledge acquired on LGBTQI+ athletes and coaches while focusing on the intersectionality aspect of the LGBTQI+ community in Europe. Data will be collected via LGBTQI+ networks in Europe, and during several sport events (European Youth and Sport Platform, EuroGames).
Training for equality & diversity
To improve knowledge and understanding on the importance of diversity in sport, ENGSO and ENGSO Youth staff have tested and evaluated a diversity training programme. This has been recently developed by ENGSO and ENGSO EWS. to icrease awareness around topics such as social structures and privileges that can help sport organisations to develop a more welcoming, inclusive and diverse environment.
Celebrating European women in sport: online seminar
To honour and celebrate the women in sport, ENGSO Equality Within Sport Committee (EWS) organised an online seminar on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, to discuss the history and the work of the European Women in Sport, their past, present and challenges ahead. The seminar was hosted by the current EWS Chair Sallie Barker who welcomed former chairs of the Committee: Birgitta Kervinen, Amanda Bennett and Anita White.
Equality Highlights at the ENGSO General Assembly
Sport for equality was at the agenda of the ENGSO General Assembly with the organisation of a session on “Equality, Diversity and Disabilities”, led by EWS member Jen Browning (UK Sport), the presentation of the newly adopted Position Paper on Gender Equality during the Member Seminar, and the work on the equality chapter of the new ENGSO Policy Programme. It was also the opportunities for the EWS committee to evaluate the implementation of their 2023 roadmap and intensify the work to coordinating efforts in Europe to advocate and reach gender equality in grassroots sport.
European Youth & Sport Platform
During the European Youth Sport Platform organised by ENGSO Youth in Sweden, the EWS organised a workshop on “How to increase social sustainability in sports” and took part in the exhibition fair to collect data for the on-going research on women in sport in Europe.
Online seminar: “Do gender equality policies really work? Bridging the different national realities of grassroots sport across”
Based on the recently published ENGSO Position Paper on Gender Equality, the EWS organised an online seminar on July 5th, 2023 to explore the differences and similarities between realities of grassroots sport across Europe and discuss the efficiency of gender equality policies. ENGSO Vice-President Filipa Godinho (Portuguese Sport Confederation) welcomed participants and speakers Mirjana Ivkovic (NOC Serbia and ENGSO Youth), Sandro Araújo (Portuguese Cycling Federation and Portugal Paralympic Committee) and Erik van Haaren (NOC*NSF and ENGSO Youth Vice-Chair).
EuroGames 2023: data collection on women in sport
During the EuroGames – Bern, the EWS continued to collect data for its research on the situation of women in sport. Researcher Angelica Saenz and EWS member Sarah Townsend (European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation, EGLSF) were in Switzerland from 26-29 July to exchange with participants and gather more answers to the on-going EWS survey.
EWS at the Discover Football International Symposium
During the Discover Football International Symposium – Berlin, the EWS continued to collect data for its research on the situation of women in sport. Researcher Angelica Saenz was in Berlin, Germany, from 12-13 August 2023 to meet with athletes, coaches, referees, journalists and young leaders to gather more data and answers for the ongoing EWS survey.
“Let’s be better” conference
On September 19th, the Finlands Svenska Idrott (Swedish Sport Organisation in Finland) and the National Council of Women in Finland co-organised a seminar on “Changing the culture of sport”. The hosts put together an ambitious and dynamic programme about “Leadership, diversity and gender in sport”, which provided valuable insights and concrete tips to continue the work toward diversity and inclusion in sport. During the panel on “Modern leadership”, ENGSO President Stefan Bergh was invited to share his experience and opinion about the leadership of today and tomorrow, along with Henrika Backlung, Secretary General of Finlands Svenska Idrott, and Sari Rautio, President of the Finnish Paralympic Committee.
EWS on stage at the European Sport Congress (EUSC)
As a guest speaker, ENGSO project manager and ENGSO Youth Committee member Alessia De Iulis, presented the work of ENGSO EWS Committee in the field of equality and inclusion. This was a great opportunity to look back at the EWS initiatives in 2022, such as the #StandUp4Equality communication campaign, the series of online seminars, and the publication of a learning document on the inclusion of transwomen. Alessia presented the results of the research that collected up-to-date data regarding the LGBTQI+ community in the sport setting and the recommendations published to increase the participation and improve the experience of LGBTQI+ participants in grassroots sport.
European Sport Platform 2023
The ESP 2023, which was hosted in Lisbon by the Portuguese Sport Confederation, was a highlight of the year for the work of the EWS with several equality sessions. First, with the organisation of the final conference of the EQUIP for Equality in Practice Erasmus+ project, then, with the organisation of a workshop on social sustainability,
Read more about the EQUIP conference
Read more about the EWS meeting in Lisbon
Recommendations on the inclusion of LGBTQI+ people in grassroots sport in 10 languages
Last year, the EWS commissioned research on the state of equality within the European sport sector. The aim of the study was to collect up-to-date data that correlate with topics related to the LGBTQI+ community and its participation in sport. Based on the results of this study, the committee presented a list of recommendations to make grassroots sport more LGBTQI+ friendly and accessible to all. These are now accessible in 10 languages: Croatia, Dutch, English, French, Finnish, German, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.
Find the recommendations in all languages here
European coordination meeting
On 13 November 2023, the EWS organised a European coordination meeting on gender equality in sport in Madrid, Spain. Several organisations involved in the work on gender equality in sport in Europe took part in the meeting, under the coordination of ENGSO, such as the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) of the Council of Europe, the Sport Unit of the European Commission, the Global Obervatory for Gender Equality & Sport, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF), the European Olympic Committee, and the International Working Group on Women in Sport (IWG). The aim of the meeting was to gain an understanding of each organisation’s current goals and work in the area of gender equality, to identify any duplication and gaps and to discuss how to work together in the future. During the meeting, the participants agreed on future actions.
Publication: “Women’s participation in sport across europe”, EWS research 2023
In 2023, the EWS has commissioned research on the state of equality within the European sport sector with a focus on women in sport. The report published has the greater aim to make sport a safer environment for women in Europe. The results are presented from an intersectional perspective, specifically taking into account six socio-demographic aspects: age, gender identity, sexual orientation, migrant background, socio-economic and disability status. The data collected enables ENGSO and its partners to look more deeply into the lived experiences of women who are marginalised by multiple structures of oppression.
Online seminar: “Europe and Women in Sport: EWS research shows multi-layered realities”
On November 28th, 2023, the EWS committee organised an online seminar to present and discuss the results of its latest research on the participation and experiences of women in sport across Europe. Tarja Krum, ENGSO Equality Within Sport Committee (EWS) Vice-Chair, welcomed Angelica Saenz, EWS researcher, Ilaria Todde, Advocacy and Research Director at EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C), and Eda Emirdag, Chair of Roller Derby Nederland, to discuss the results of a research commissioned by the EWS on women’s participation in sport across Europe.
Orange the World Campaign
The EWS study 2023 about women in sport was disseminated on the occasion of the global Orange the World – 16 Days of Activism against Gender- Based Violence UN Women campaign.
Pilot training session on equality, diversity and inclusion for ENGSO Executive Committee members
After ENGSO and ENGSO Youth staff (see February), the ENGSO Executive Committee members have tested and evaluated a diversity training programme to improve knowledge and understanding on the importance of diversity in sport. The curriculum aims at increasing awareness around topics such as social structures and privileges that can help sport organisations to develop a more welcoming, inclusive and diverse environment.
Sallie Barker, chair
ENGSO
Margarita Karadimitropoulou,
Hellenic Paralympic Committee
Anabela Sousa Vaz dos Reis,
Portugese Sports Confederation
Sarah Townsend,
European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation
Jennifer Browning,
Sport and Recreation Alliance
Rejhan Halili,
Kosovo Olympic Committee
Tarja Krum,
Finnish Olympic Committee
Isaiah Kioiloglou,
ENGSO Youth
Liam Strasser,
100% SPORT – Austrian Center of Excellence for Gender Equality and Safe Sport
Leila Marques,
European Paralympic Committee (EPC)