Sport: Commission increases actions to foster gender equality in sport

Today, the High-Level Group on gender equality in sport, established by Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, hands over an action plan with recommendations to achieve a more equitable gender balance in sport to the Commission, Member States, national and international sports bodies and grassroots organisations. The actions were developed considering eight transversal topics and six thematic areas of engagement such as participation, media coverage or leadership. Commissioner Gabriel said: “As a Union, we strive for everyone to realise their full potential whatever one decides to do, no matter their background or gender. Sport is no exception. I welcome this report as an invaluable input to the political debate and invite every sport stakeholder to use it as a practical tool-kit to achieve better gender equality in sport.” Composed of former high-level athletes, politicians, members of European and international sport federations as well as distinguished academics, the High-Level Group worked together to produce recommendations and address topics related to girls’ and women’s participation in sport, female coaches, women’s representation in decision-making processes, media coverage as well as gender-based violence. Based on these recommendations, the Commission proposed several actions, such as a dedicated European Conference on gender equality in sport, and an award to promote gender equality, BeEqual. An overview of the set of recommendations is available in the factsheet and the report.