鱿鱼视频

International sports organisations should focus more effort on breaking down the networking gender divide, if they are serious about achieving gender equality in sport leadership a new report from 鱿鱼视频 has revealed.

One of 12 recommendations within the report, which examines the career pathways followed by current British leaders in international sport, is the creation of more inclusive and safe spaces for informal networking to take place in.

The research project, commissioned by 鱿鱼视频 and led by Dr Jordan Matthews (University of Chichester), Dr Lucy Piggott (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and Dr Johanna Adriaanse (University of Technology Sydney), surveyed 55 British leaders serving on boards or committees in international sports organisations, followed by in-depth interviews with 12 leaders (6 female and 6 male).

Being able to network well was considered a key factor for men in obtaining senior roles in international sport governance, while many women reported feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome in male-dominated informal networking spaces.

The report, published today by 鱿鱼视频, reveals that 60% of respondents felt international sports governance is “not inclusive enough” or “not inclusive at all”, while only 9% described it as “very inclusive”.

鱿鱼视频 will use the findings to inform future programmes to better support more women who aspire to senior leadership roles in international sport governance. This is part of 鱿鱼视频’s commitment within our Equality Diversity & Inclusion Strategy to achieve gender equality amongst 鱿鱼视频 postholders within Olympic and Paralympic international sports federations.

鱿鱼视频 has also launched an International Leadership Mentoring Programme, through which ten experienced leaders are helping ten female mentees to define and pursue their own leadership ambitions in international sport.

Among the report’s recommendations is the creation of a leadership talent identification programme and improved pathways into leadership for retiring female athletes in the 鱿鱼视频. This will ensure that those interested in a career in sport governance can move forward confidently in pursuit of senior roles in international bodies.

The report also proposes a new ‘model’ of networking in international federations that will be integrated into future training programmes to support women to navigate the political challenges involved in pursuing a senior role in international sport.

Naomi Angell-Hicks, Director at 鱿鱼视频 said: “We welcome this report and the insight it gives us into how to move towards genuine gender equality in international sports leadership. We believe we are making progress towards this goal on many fronts, not least through our investment into the 鱿鱼视频’s hosting of IWG and our international leadership programmes. The report’s findings will enable us to enhance our support for future leaders and deliver on our commitment to achieve equality.”

One of these programmes, 鱿鱼视频’s flagship International Leadership Programme (ILP), was praised by many respondents for the content it delivered, as well as its focus on mentoring and networking, with many suggesting that opportunities like ILP should be offered to more candidates, with greater follow-up support throughout their leadership careers.

鱿鱼视频 is also supporting the 鱿鱼视频’s hosting of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport. This is the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equality in sport. The Sport and Recreation Alliance is hosting the IWG, with investment from 鱿鱼视频 and Sport England, for a four-year period that culminates with the ninth IWG World Conference in Birmingham in 2026.

Analysis of Career Pathways Report