In Focus: Women and girls in sport

On 8 May 2018, the HeForShe Flash Tournament brought together women's soccer teams from eight universities in Mexico. Photo: UN Women/Dzilam Méndez
Photo: UN Women/Dzilam Méndez

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Sport has the power to change lives. The ability to drive gender equality by teaching women and girls teamwork, self-reliance, resilience and confidence. Women in sport defy gender stereotypes and social norms, make inspiring role models, and show men and women as equals.

Led by UN Women, the Sport for Generation Equality Initiative is inviting stakeholders from across the sports ecosystem to be part of a powerful coalition to make gender equality a lived reality in and through sport.

Together, this coalition will accelerate efforts to promote women’s leadership and equality in governance models, prevent and respond to gender-based violence, close the gap in investment in women’s sport and promote equal economic opportunities, promote women’s equal participation and bias-free representation in media, and provide equal opportunities for girls in sport, physical activity and physical education.

As some of the world’s top women athletes prepare for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, we’re celebrating the remarkable achievements and unmatched potential of women and girls in sport. 

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Video: Meet Khadija Timera, a lawyer and boxer from Senegal

Social Media

Use #WomenInSport and #Tokyo2020 during the Olympics to show your support for women athletes who defy stereotypes and make inspiring role models, yet still face gender discrimination. Time to raise your voice and cheer for gender equality!