By Katie Simmonds, Chair, SIGA Women Council
March 8 – Here we go… again! Today we are celebrating International Women’s Day 2025, and it is time to shine a spotlight on our journey to achieving gender equity in sport. Stifle a yawn.
In reality – what has changed in the last 12 months to tangibly make a difference? How can we contribute to shaping a future that is better for young women with more opportunities to thrive when the pace of change is slow, and there is often a lack of political will to instigate governance reform which would mean men stepping aside and giving women equipped with matching expertise a place at the top table?
The Gold Standard is gender equity on the board of sports organisations worldwide, yet we know we are far off from achieving this, with many sports organisations lucky to have one only lonely woman in their decision-making structures.
Indeed, since 2019, SIGA has conducted an independent, annual research into the percentage of women’s representation in the highest executive organs of the 32 international federations recognised by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and so far, we have yet to achieve 30%. In 2024, out of the 206 IOC member National Olympic Committees (NOCs), there were only 24 NOCs that were presided by women, representing a mere 11.65 % of the total.
However, whilst this paints a bleak snapshot of where we are, it is progress from previous years. Last year, UEFA changed its statutes to double the number of women in its Executive Committee – from one to two – and there are an increasing number of initiatives worldwide, Women in Sport (UK), Women’s Sports Foundation (US) and Play By the Rules (Australia), to get more women represented on the boards of sports organisations and empower girls using sport as a tool.
Against this backdrop, women’s sport is not just having a moment – an expression I loathe – but is breaking records with unprecedented attendance figures in women football matches, with stadiums reaching +80,000 capacity – think Arsenal FC women’s team – and more female investors coming on board – Michele Kang, Renee Montgomery, and of course the high-profile women supporting Angels City FC.
Last Summer’s Paris 2024 was the first Olympic Games in history where the same number of women were able to compete as men, with many countries’ female athletes achieving more medals than men including the United States, China, Australia, Netherlands and South Korea.
Sponsorships for women’s sport are also on the rise although the age-old chicken and egg conundrum remains, with less money invested in the men’s equivalent due to decreased viewership resulting in lower media rights deals. Women’s sport and female leadership in sport is not a charity – and so on the eve of IWD2025, despite the progress, we need to keep our foot on the gas to drive change and subvert this narrative.
So, what can we as individuals do?
Seven years ago, SIGA’s Global CEO, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros challenged me to set up a global mentorship programme for aspiring female leaders in the sports industry to implement our good governance reform. Initially, I admit, I wasn’t enamoured with the idea of being a poster girl for gender equity in sport as I had experienced firsthand how tough it is to be accepted for your credentials as a female sports lawyer and was used to being the only woman in the room.
Why did I want to highlight my gender when this had been a barrier with one male partner of a renown sports law firm asking me at interview, what were the disadvantages of being female? Quite a few it seemed! Why did I want to lead a group of women, when often, in my experience, women had been the problem, gatekeeping access, preferring to maintain their privilege of being one of the few?
Through our mentorship programme, I realised fast that I was not alone in facing these challenges. I also saw, first hand, the power of storytelling – to educate, inspire and unite a new generation of leaders – yes not female leaders – let’s drop the gender – leaders and revitalise and innovate the fast-paced sports landscape.
To date SIGAWomen has delivered mentorship to +300 women worldwide, creating a safe place to address topics that are tough to raise internally and arming mentees with all the smart answers, we wish we would have said, but often couldn’t find our voice.
Last year we connected 150 women from 32 countries and this year we are doubling the impact to 300 women from +50 countries with plans to increase this to 1000 in 2026. This year I have “speed dated” over 150 women from 45 countries to join the SIGAWomen movement to narrow the gender gap on the board of sports organisations worldwide.
What I have learnt is that gender equity is different on a continental basis and yet despite our different prisms, we are united by the belief that more work needs to be done to support aspiring women and equip them with the confidence and expertise to know their value and embark on a leadership journey.
This is what drives me to continue building this community of like-minded women in sports that want to help one another rather than compete against each other. I am confident and optimistic, that we can increase the number of female leaders – provided we have allies, sponsors and raise each other up – not just on International Women’s Day – but every day.
Click here to learn more about the SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Programme
A specialist sports lawyer by trade, Katie Simmonds created and leads the SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Programme for Female Leaders in the Sports Industry. She can be contacted at moc.t1741638576rops-1741638576agis@1741638576sdnom1741638576mis.e1741638576itak1741638576