Sport Equality
Time frame: 2025
Sport Equality is implemented within the framework of the Sport4CERV - Enabling Equality through sport project which funded by the CERV programme of the European Union.
Timeline of activities
December
EWS Steering Meeting
In addition to the 8 online and 2 on-site Equality Within Sport (EWS) Committee meetings, and the bi-monthly EWS online steering meetings, the EWS Chair, Vice Chair, and ENGSO Head of Programmes and Equality met in December in Vienna, Austria, to evaluate the work of 2025, look back more specifically at the 2022-2025 CERV results and discuss their legacy for 2026 and beyond. This was the occasion to organise a field visit with ENGSO member Sports Austria and exchange about their equality strategy, their recent achievements and challenges which could benefit other ENGSO members.
Sports expert focus group: human rights toolkit for trans and intersex athletes
On 15 December, ENGSO associated member, the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) organised a focus group to discuss and develop a human right toolkit for trans and intersex athletes. ENGSO was represented by EWS Chair Tarja Krum and ENGSO Youth Policy and project manager Chloe Jordan.
ENGSO and its EWS attend Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) Forum on Sport and Human Rights
On December 16, 2025 ENGSO Secretary General Theo Neyenhuis, and EWS Vice-Chair Sarah Townsend attended the EPAS Forum on Sport and Human Rights in Paris, France, which had a health and well-being focus this year.
november
The Political Pulse: Emerging Challenges to Gender and Sport
During this interactive online seminar and together with experts in the field, participants explored the current situation of gender equality and diversity in grassroots sport, in the context of current political developments across Europe and globally. On this occasion and together with participants and speakers, ENGSO EWS launched the “Orange the World” campaign. On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25. November), this event marked the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, managed by UN Women, in which ENGSO is a proud partner.
ENGSO EWS presents SPORT4CERV at the European Sport Congress 2025 in Lille
On 4–5 November 2025, ENGSO Equality Within Sport (EWS) Vice Chair Sarah Townsend represented the organisation at the second edition of the European Sport Congress in Lille, France, where she presented ENGSO SPORT4CERV – Sport Equality Programme to an international audience of sport professionals and researchers.
Conceived as a dynamic meeting point for institutions, researchers, and athletes, the Congress provided a valuable platform to exchange ideas, present projects, and foster meaningful synergies within the European sport ecosystem.
Kosovo Sport Federations and Organisations sign the IWG Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration
Kosovo takes a historic step for gender equality in sport – ENGSO represented as the European IWG global Executive at the signing of the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration
ENGSO EWS Chair Tarja Krum represented ENGSO and the European Global Executive of IWG at the signing of the “Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration” in Pristina, Kosovo, where 16 sport actors and educational institutions, including the Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC) – came together to strengthen their commitment to gender equality in sport.
October
EPAS Diversity Conference
ENGSO Youth Vice Chair Luca Wernert was among the keynote speakers at the Council of Europe EPAS Diversity Conference on Sport and Intergenerational Challenges for Young People and Older Persons, which took place in Strasbourg, France, on 21 October. The conference explored how sport can bridge generational divides, promote healthy ageing, and empower young people to take an active role in shaping the future of sport.
Launch: “Sidelines to the Playing Field: LGBTQI Youth Perspectives on Inclusion in School and Community Sport”
At this event organised by the International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation, we heard from various stakeholders and learnt about IGLYO’s latest research’s main findings, examples of promising practices, and policy recommendations. Titled From the Sidelines to the Playing Field: LGBTQI Youth Perspectives on Inclusion in School and Community Sport, the publication documents LGBTQI young people’s lived experiences in school and community-based sports through a qualitative study placing their perspectives at the centre through 27 in-depth interviews, complemented by nine stakeholder consultations. It also puts forward recommendations drawn from the study’s key findings that outline concrete steps policymakers, sports institutions, educational institutions, and youth organisations can take to turn commitments into practice.
European Sport Platform 2025
During the European Sport Platform 2025 held in Barcelona, EWS Chair Tarja Krum took part in a panel discussion on “Provocations & Success Stories” as an expert on safe sport and inclusion.
EWS Consultative Meeting
Before the European Sport Platform, the experts of the Equality Within Sport (EWS) Committee met in person in Barcelona, Spain on October 23rd to discuss, revise the equality sections of the updated ENGSO Policy Programme.
European Sport Model Consultation
On the second day of the European Sport Platform, ENGSO hosted a consultation with its members and network on the European Sport Model. EU Advisory Committee Chair Theo Neyenhuis welcomed Sacha Beck, Policy Officer at the Sport Unit of the European Commission, who presented the EU Sport Policy and led this consultation on the Commission Communication titled “A Strategic Vision for Sport in Europe: Reinforcing the European Sport Model.”
Empowering women and advancing equality: ENGSO participates in the GEIN project’s final conference
On 15–16 October 2025, partners, experts, and stakeholders from across Europe gathered at the Sports University of Tirana for the final conference of the Gender Equality and Inclusion in Sport (GEIN – Equal Play, Equal Say) project. The event celebrated two years of international collaboration promoting equality, inclusion, and empowerment through sport.
ENGSO was represented by Equality Within Sport (EWS) committee chair Tarja Krum, who contributed as the project’s mentoring programs mentor and speaker at the event.
*This event was organised outside of the EU, no funds were claimed under the Sport4CERV programme.
ENGSO at the Play the Game 2025: Driving dialogue for democracy in sport
At the 2025 Play the Game conference in Tampere, Finland, 5-8.10 with more than 500 participants, Tarja Krum and Marie Denitton from ENGSO joined the international dialogue that connected safeguarding, gender justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and good governance. Athletes, activists, researchers, and policymakers from across the globe came together to share experiences of courage, exclusion, and reform. Hosted in Tampere, the conference offered a space where global perspectives met in open dialogue: from Africa to Asia, from the Americas to Europe.
The 22nd EAS Conference Facilitates Exchanges on Dual Career Development Across Europe
From 6 to 8 October 2025, the University of Latvia hosted the 22nd Annual Conference and General Assembly of the European Athlete as Student (EAS) Network in Riga, Latvia. The event gathered 82 delegates from 17 countries, who shared insights through 29 oral presentations, three workshops, six activity breaks, and two celebratory walks marking the 10th anniversary of the #BeActive Programme. ENGSO was present at the event.
IOAPA-IGNITX Safeguarding in Sport
This engaging session explored practical strategies, experiences, and approaches to building safer and more inclusive environments for all involved in sport.
Training and development of Para sport coaches, referees and managers
The joint European Union – Council of Europe project “Sport For All: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities” organised its first webinar, which brought together researchers, policy-makers, international organisations, sport federations as well as grassroots practitioners such as coaches and referees to: showcase good practices and innovative approaches from across Europe; highlight research and initiatives in Para sport coaching and management; discuss how to bridge the gap between policy and practice at the grassroots/local level.
Launch: “Sidelines to the Playing Field: LGBTQI Youth Perspectives on Inclusion in School and Community Sport”
At this event organised by the International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation, we heard from various stakeholders and learnt about IGLYO’s latest research’s main findings, examples of promising practices, and policy recommendations. Titled From the Sidelines to the Playing Field: LGBTQI Youth Perspectives on Inclusion in School and Community Sport, the publication documents LGBTQI young people’s lived experiences in school and community-based sports through a qualitative study placing their perspectives at the centre through 27 in-depth interviews, complemented by nine stakeholder consultations.
The Summer of Sport: How Women’s Sport is Being Seen in 2025
This webinar, led by Women’s Sport Trust offered a data-led look at the visibility, gaps, and growth of women’s sport. The review explored how attention has been captured around events like the UEFA Women’s Euros, the Women’s Rugby World Cup, the Athletics World Championships, the start of the BWSL season – alongside the cricket and tennis summers and the culmination of the Netball Super League.
Participants examined where growth is happening, where competition for attention is limiting impact, and how different platforms are impacting visibility.
Gaps in coverage were also uncovered, highlight the most effective strategies, and what needs to change to ensure momentum is not just built in big moments, but sustained year-round.
september
“Connecting for Change”: ENGSO EWS attends the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport Conference
On September 30, 2025 ENGSO EWS vice-chair Sarah Townsend attended the Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport Conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, which had as a theme this year “Connecting for Change”. The day progressed with 8 different sessions that addressed gender equality in sport on issues including: Meaningful inclusion and participation in and through sport, “Who is responsible for preventing and responding to gender-based violence?”, Measuring Impact, The transformative role of technology and AI in sport, Reimagining sport, Participatory approaches in sport, Women’s health and sport, and Change making – Shaping the future of sport and gender equality.
*This event was organised as part of a European project, no funds were claimed under the Sport4CERV programme.
Focus Group on Women’s Sport Events
During the European Week of Sport, ENGSO gathered organisers of women’s sport events in Europe and relevant experts during a focus group discussion about the challenges and opportunities of women’s sport events with a focus on intersectionality. Participants celebrated the recent improvements while depicting a contrasted reality with persistent gaps behind this growth.
*This event was organised as part of a European project, no funds were claimed under the Sport4CERV programme.
The Political Impact on Equality and Diversity Programmes in Grassroots Sport
ENGSO EWS hosted and facilitated an online consultation with European stakeholders to explore emerging threats to gender equality and diversity in grassroots sport, in the context of current political developments across Europe and globally. Participants underscored the need for integrated, cross-sector collaboration and deeper strategic reflection beyond immediate crises, emphasizing human rights and solidarity.
Leading the Shift
This was a powerful, uplifting conversation on leadership, courage and change in sport – called “inspiring, empowering, refreshing and vital” by attendees.
Fresh insights, bold ideas and a thought-provoking exchange between two of sport’s most influential leaders: Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Chair of the IWG, and Professor Laura McAllister CBE, FLSW, FRSA, UEFA Vice President and Executive Committee member.
“There are only two options in leadership. One is to get involved and try and improve and change things. The other is to sit at home and complain.”
Safeguarding in Sport – Building Safe, Inclusive, and Accountable Cultures
Ensuring the safety and well-being of young people is not just a duty—it’s a shared responsibility. This session will delve into international frameworks, governance strategies, and accountability mechanisms, while highlighting the importance of trauma-informed, person-centered approaches to prevention and protection.
European Week of Sport Opening
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the European Week of Sport and the #BeActive campaign. Since 2015, the Week has inspired millions of Europeans to discover the physical, mental, and social benefits of sport and physical activity. Over the past decade, it has grown into a powerful movement promoting healthier, more active lifestyles across Europe.
The 10th edition officially kicked off in Copenhagen, on 23 September 2025, where ENGSO was represented by our Secretary General, Sara Massini. The following day, on 24 September 2025, the Danish Presidency, in cooperation with the European Commission, hosted a sports conference focusing on the benefits of living a physically active life.
AUGUST
European Paralympic Committee Conference and General Assembly
On 29–30 August 2025, ParalympicsGB hosted the European Paralympic Committee (EPC) Conference and General Assembly, bringing together nearly 150 representatives of member and partner organisations from across Europe. ENGSO was represented by Tarja Krum, Chair of ENGSO’s Equality Within Sport (EWS) Committee and member of the ENGSO Executive Committee, together with EWS member Margarita Karadimitropoulou from the Hellenic Paralympic committee.
Themed “Towards a More Inclusive Europe: The Role of Para Sport”, the conference on 29. August created space for knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and shaping the EPC’s 2025–2033 Strategic Plan
JULY
Equity in Action – Real Stories. Real Progress
As European representative at the IWG, the EWS participated in the first SHIFT//SESSION on “Equity in Action – Real Stories. Real Progress”, featuring IWG signatories sharing how they are turning commitments into change for women and girls in sport.
2025–2027 Young Delegates programme from ENGSO Youth – New Social Inclusion Working Group
The ENGSO Youth Young Delegates kick-off meeting officially launched the 2025–2027 mandate, uniting newly appointed delegates for an energetic and collaborative start. The session opened with a warm welcome from ENGSO Youth Chair Alessia De Iulis, followed by personal introductions that gave delegates the chance to share their backgrounds and interests. The Social Inclusion Working Group is composed of five motivated and skilled young delegates.
Youth in decision-making: promoting equality and inclusion in sport (2024 re-granting)
From Marseille Rainbow Sport (MARS) to the EuroGames in Lyon: participation and voices of young LGBTQI+ people in sport. This article tells the story of one beneficiary from the programme.
ENGSO meets with European Commissioner Micallef to advocate for Grassroots Sport
ENGSO Vice President Filipa Godinho, ExCom Member and Chair of the EU Advisory Committee Theo Neyenhuis and Secretary General Sara Massini met with Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, to reaffirm ENGSO’s commitment to ensuring grassroots sport remains at the heart of European sport policy.
EuroGames 2025
The EuroGames Lyon 2025, held from 23–27 July, marked a milestone with 5,500 athletes across 29 sports, record-breaking sell-out speed, and the warm support of the city and its iconic volunteers in pink. A highlight was the launch of the upgraded My EuroGames Story exhibition by the EGLSF — showcasing the personal journeys of LGBTIQ+ athletes and the inclusive spirit of Europe’s largest multi-sport event for the LGBTIQ+ community. Through heartfelt testimonials and memories, the exhibition celebrates the power of sport in fostering inclusion, pride, identity, and community. EuroGames continues to inspire across Europe’s LGBTIQ+ sports clubs, building confidence, connection, and lasting memories beyond the competition.
JUNE
150 young people join ENGSO Youth in Munich for the 2nd edition of the European Youth & Sport Platform
At the 2025 edition of the European Youth and Sport Platform, held from 5–7 June 2025 in Munich, Germany, organised by ENGSO Youth and hosted by the German Sports Youth (dsj), 150 young people from across Europe came together to explore the topics of sport innovation, mental health, sustainability and youth participation. The event served as a pivotal opportunity to discuss key priorities at the intersection of youth and sport.
SURE project partners met in Haarlem to advance inclusion in sport through guidelines, tools, and local pilot activities
On June 2–3, partners met in Haarlem (Netherland) for the midterm meeting of the Erasmus+ SURE project, coordinated by ENGSO. SURE aims to develop a cooperation model with the goal of strengthening organised (grassroots) sports, and to highlight and support sports’ role in building stronger communities by improving access to sport for vulnerable groups. SURE partners also want to empower sports organisations to better manage crises such as energy shortages, displacement, or pandemics.
ENGSO Members Seminar
The Members’ Seminar focused on key topics including youth dropout from sport, youth involvement in decision-making, financial barriers to participation, the intersection of eSports and grassroots sport, and the critical role of volunteering.
Sports, Medicine and Health Summit
On June 26-28, 2025, the Erasmus+ consortium of the project Just Gender – Community Wellbeing which includes ENGSO EWS Vie-Chair Sarah Townsend, were invited to present at the Sports, Medicine and Health Summit in Hamburg. Partners hosted a workshop entitled “The power of sport in creating gender-just communities” and Sarah spoke to the importance of consideration of gender equality in community sport initiatives in creating healthy communities, drawing on research completed in 2023 by EWS.
*This event was organised as part of a European project, no funds were claimed under the Sport4CERV programme.
100% Sport All In Plus National Event
At an annual conference hosted by 100% Sport, talking about ENGSO’s and ENGSO EWS’ work came into play when presenting and debating the ,,All In” and ,,All in Plus” data collection initiated by the EU and Council of Europe.
As an EWS member, Liam Strasser presented the content of an ENGSO training course on advocacy, equality and human rights in sport that had taken place in May 2025. One group work on site was centred around the importance of high-quality studies in the sports environment. Specifically, the All In and All In Plus studies were critically examined. At the conference in Vienna Liam representing 100% Sport as a national coordinator of these projects, showcased potential and limitations of the survey. In summary, more consistent data collection is needed, as is a broader scope in terms of considering grassroots sport also.
May
GAP Women project closing event
The GAP Women partnership concluded the 3 years project coordinated by UFEC and co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission. Secretary General Sara Massini and project coordinator Alessia De Iulis attended the final conference. The GAP WOMEN project firmly committed to gender equality in sport and to the inclusion of women belonging to groups at risk of social exclusion (immigrants, refugees, physically/intellectually disabled, mentally ill, victims of gender violence, long-term unemployed, etc.), but also to organisations, federations, clubs and public authorities which need to take on board the commitment to promote sport for equality, social integration, sustainability and economic development.
This event was organised as part of a European project, no funds were claimed under the Sport4CERV programme.
Acting together for Equality
On May 8, 2025, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, a diverse group of Finnish stakeholders gathered to advance gender equality in sport. Among the organizers was Tarja Krum, Chair of ENGSO Equality Within Sport (EWS), who introduced the work of the International Working Group on Women & Sport (IWG) and presented the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration as a practical framework for sustainable progress.
Training Course on Advocacy, Equality, and Human Rights in Sport (re-granting)
The event revolved around the topic of advocacy, equality and human rights in sport, and focused on raising awareness and educating participants how to use advocacy action to improve the state of sport, equality and human rights in and through sport in Europe. This event was organised by OPES, ENGSO member in Italy, thanks for the re-granting mechanism.
Read more: ENGSO Member OPES Italia hosts a Training Course on Advocacy, Equality, and Human Rights in Sport
APRIL
EU Sport Forum
The 2025 EU Sport Forum was held on 10–11 April in Kraków, Poland, under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. ENGSO participated with the aim of advocating for grassroots sport and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders.
Read more ENGSO at the EU Sport Forum 2025: grassroots sport as a key focus in Commissioner’s agenda
Joint ExCom and ENGSO Youth Consultation
During this joint meeting with ExCom and ENGSO Committee members, the elaboration of the consultation plan with ENGSO members was discussed, including the methodology to be used and the main objective set. This consultation for members on ENGSO Policy Programme was planned to take place during the ENGSO Members Seminar of the 2025 General Assembly
“Youth in decision-making: promoting equality and inclusion in sport” (2024 re-granting)
The initiative provides a respectful and welcoming space for sports, without any discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, or migration status.
The activity was implemented in cooperation with three Marseille-based organizations working with LGBTQI+ youth in precarious situations or migrants.
ENGSO promotes gender equality in sport in the aftermath of Paris 2024 Games
ENGSO Project and Equality Officer, Floriane Poncet-Rief represented ENGSO on a panel discussion on gender equality in sports, invited by the association Le Cercle and hosted at the French Embassy in Vienna, Austria.
MARCH
ENGSO EWS at the United Nations Human Rights Regional Consultation for Europe
ENGSO EWS participated in the United Nations Human Rights Regional Consultation for Europe on a World of Sport Free from Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Brussels, Belgium, represented by Vice Chair Sarah Townsend. She participated in the panel addressing the intersection of racial discrimination with discrimination based on gender, religion or belief and disability, and spoke to the intersection of gender and racial discrimination, highlighting the intersectional approach of the ENGSO EWS work.
ENGSO EWS attended the Best Practices Conference on Building Inclusive Sports Together hosted by EGLSF and Samarucs at the EGLSF Annual General Assembly 2025
The EGLSF Annual General Assembly 2025 took place in Valencia, Spain from Feb 28 – March 2. Sarah Townsend participated in the Gender Equality and Diversity policies in LGBTIQ+ sport clubs panel and discussed findings from the LBTI women in Sport – Research & Outcomes (WSRO) Erasmus project as well as drawing on EWS 2023 research and findings.
Read more on EGLSF website EGLSF AGA 2025 Recap – EGLSF.info
EWS organises online seminar on “Advancing gender equality in sport – Insights from signatories of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration”
This event was moderated by EWS Chair, Tarja Krum, and celebrated International Women’s Day (March 8th). Guests shared their insights on advancing equality in sport, and their journey in signing and committing to implement the 10 principles of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, initiated by the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG).
February
European Summit on Gender Equality and Diversity in Sport
The Equality Within Sport (EWS) committee of ENGSO hosted a European Summit on Gender Equality and Diversity in Sport in Luxembourg. This event was organised as a follow-up of the EWS initiatives to bring together key actors from the European level in Madrid, Spain (2023) and in Brussels, Belgium (2024).
The event provided a platform for each organisation to present their highlights and their ongoing work on gender equality and diversity, creating synergies between actors and opportunities to cooperate on specific activities.
Read more: EWS organises European Summit on Gender Equality and Diversity in Sport
ENGSO EWS attended the online seminar “Towards safer sports environments: transforming MEN’talities” organised by the SUPPORTER project
The event explored how violence in sports reflects broader societal expectations of masculinity, where aggression and dominance are often linked to respect and social order. ENGSO EWS listened to Daniel Alsarve’s presentation. Daniel Alsave is a researcher in Sport Science at Örebro University, Sweden and at RF-SISU Örebro County, and he was an active player of the EQUIP project coordinated by ENGSO (2021-2023).
Closing event of the “All In Plus” EU-CoE joint project
The “All In Plus” project aimed to keep gender equality at the forefront of the sports agenda, advocating for real, lasting improvements in accessibility, visibility, and opportunities for women in sport. This closing event gathered national partners and experts to present the results and discuss the next steps.
Read more on the CoE website: Closing event of the “All In Plus” EU-CoE joint project – ALL IN: Towards gender balance in sport
Gender Equality and Diversity policies in LGBTIQ+ sport clubs and sport federations
During the Best Practices Conference on Building Inclusive Sports Together hosted by EGLSF and Samarucs at the EGLSF Annual General Assembly 2025, Valencia, Spain from Feb 28 – March 2, Sarah Townsend participated in the Gender Equality and Diversity policies in LGBTIQ+ sport clubs panel and discussed findings from the LBTI women in Sport – Research & Outcomes (WSRO) Erasmus project as well as drawing on EWS 2023 research and findings.
Read more EGLSF AGA 2025 Recap – EGLSF.info
January
Green League, Out of the Box International
Presentation of ENGSO work on equality with a focus on EWS work for accessibility and inclusive dimensions, with the publication of the events guidelines.
Read more about the project: Sustainability Incubator / Green League | Out of the Box International
*This event was organised as part of a European project, no funds were claimed under the Sport4CERV programme.
Promoting Equality and Inclusion in Sports
Tarja Krum, Chair, and Sarah Townsend, Vice Chair, of the ENGSO Equality Within Sports (EWS) Committee, shared their expertise with community educators on fostering diversity, inclusion, and human rights in sports.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.