WomenSport International Newsletter

It’s an exciting time for women in sport. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia takes place from July 20 to August 20 and is poised to be the biggest women’s football tournament yet. Less publicized but also important is the Netball World Cup taking place in Cape Town, South Africa from July 28 to August 6. Events like these bring women’s sports to the forefront of global communications and inspire young women worldwide to participate in sports.

On that note, WomenSport International has actively contributed toward developing UNESCO’s new Fit for Life program by ensuring gender is a focus area. Fit for Life is a sport-based initiative designed to activate smart investments in sport and drive positive social change by increasing grassroots participation. This huge undertaking requires commitment and action from all sectors of society.

A big first step came at the recent MINEPS (International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport) VII meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan (June 26 to 29), where more than 110 member states and other stakeholders adopted the Baku Outcome Document and the Fit for Life Global Alliance. MINEPS is a global conference that engages key government decision-makers, athletes, the private sector, and other stakeholders to increase investment in sport, improve sport practices, and foster quality physical education. It magnifies the positive impact of sport on health, society, and the economy.

WSI provided feedback on the documents through various forums over the last year. Dr. Carole Oglesby and I represented WSI in Baku. Here is our commitment statement.

We have also had discussions about the future of the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport (GO). The GO lost its CEO in March 2023, during the first year of the GO’s development. This is a critical time with only another year and a half of funding committed. WSI and other international women and sport organizations, such as the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) and the International Working Group for Women in Sport (IWG), are concerned about WSO’s future.

WSI requested information about the GO’s future from UNESCO and other founding GO board members, and there was a June 28 meeting in Baku on this topic. We will continue to follow up and advocate for proper funding and commitment for the GO to build its role and impact.

An important win related to human rights and discrimination against women was the case of Caster Semenya versus Switzerland. The European Court of Human Rights found “in particular that the applicant had not been afforded sufficient institutional and procedural safeguards in Switzerland to allow her to have her complaints examined effectively, especially since her complaints concerned substantiated and credible claims of discrimination as a result of her increased testosterone level caused by differences of sex development (DSD)” (issued by the Registrar of the Court, July 11, 2023).

WSI, in collaboration with IAPESGW and IWG, got permission to submit an intervention to the Court in October 2021. The brief was prepared with advice from Dr. Payoshni Mitra and legal experts Advocate Jhuma Sen and Dr. Michele Krech. WSI thanks them for continuing to support the health and wellbeing of women in sport.

Over the next six months, WSI will reestablish its task forces. Many of you who have been involved will have been contacted to confirm your interest. We expect the next three and a half years will see many of you actively continuing to advance opportunities for women in sport. Meanwhile, we wish you all a relaxing and productive summer. Enjoy our latest newsletter.

Diane Huffman

President, WomenSport International

(Photos L and R above from Ms. Aya Noguchi, WSI member, Director of Sports for Creating Pathways Japan)

The Sport for Development (S4D) LIGA KSB youth football leagues for girls and boys with and without disabilities in West Sumbawa (KSB) held an event hosted by ASA Foundation and PT Amman Mineral International (AMMAN) in collaboration with PSSI ASKABD. Dr. Becky Clark, WSI Vice President, joined the weekend kick-off activities on the pitch with the 19 teams to promote life skills, gender equality, women empowerment, and youth with disabilities sport participation and inclusion. Click here to read more about this groundbreaking event in Asia.

WSI hosted a webinar entitled “A World Where Talent Has No Gender”. The guest speaker was the former WSI Treasurer and the founder & CEO of SheSkillz Global, Ms. Guro A. Johnsen. SheSkillz Global is an online platform designed for women to promote their skills and match their professional profiles with progressive companies worldwide seeking experienced employees. It is an international community of talents, companies, entrepreneurs, mentees, and mentors, who share a vision of building a world where talent has no gender. Click here to read more about the organization.

The main purpose of WSI is to serve as an umbrella organization that effects positive change for girls and women through their engagement in sport and physical activity. We are equitable and all-inclusive in all we do. We welcome membership applications from individuals and organizations. Click here to join WSI as a member!

Membership Benefits:

• Access to an international network of experts for sharing research, information, ideas, good practices, and actions taken

• Communication regarding research-based strategies to enhance gender equity practices in the sport industries

• Support to enhance opportunities and effect change for women and girls in sport and physical activity

• Invitation to WSI functions at major international conferences

Dr. Kanae Haneishi

Secretary General, WomenSport International

Canada’s Caroline Ouellette made hockey history by winning an Olympic gold medal in ice hockey in all four Winter Games (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) she participated in. She also owns six IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship gold medals. Today, the 44-year-old Montreal native – one of the greatest all-around forwards this sport has ever seen – doubles as an assistant coach with the Canadian women’s national team and an associate coach with Concordia University’s women’s hockey team.

Describing it as a “huge honor,” Ouellette was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in May in Tampere, Finland. She will enter the Hockey Hall of Fame in November in Toronto, Canada. We chatted about her illustrious career and Canadian teammates.

Can you identify some of the moments and people that inspired you early in your career?

I still remember seeing the 1990 final [of the first Women’s World Championship in Ottawa] on TV and then watching the [inaugural 1998] Nagano Olympic final. It’s crazy, because the year after I was on the senior team and I felt so far from that moment.

After an Olympics, there is always turnover. When I got invited to my first Team Canada senior camp and coach Daniele Sauvageau gave me a chance as a 19-year-old, suddenly I was playing with my television idols! It was really overwhelming and intimidating. But I got to play with Vicki Sunohara and Jayna Hefford at my first World Championship. I didn’t really speak English and they didn’t speak French, but we got along and they were very kind and patient. It really helped me as a stepping stone into my Team Canada career.

Your longtime teammate Jennifer Botterill, who is the same age, has made a name for herself as a National Hockey League (NHL) broadcaster. Thoughts on her path?

Jen is one of the kindest persons I know. She’s always there for teammates. She's always aware of others’ feelings and emotions, taking the time to see how you're doing. In my career so many times when I wore my emotions on my sleeve, she helped me feel confident and calm. I remember going for lunch with her in 2002 before my first Olympic final. She said to me, “You know, we’re going to win this.” That made me feel so much more comfortable. I was so fortunate to play with her for many years. She was one of the world’s best two-way centers. She was just as good on the power play as on the penalty kill, a great playmaker, and always willing to communicate and about ways we could get better.

Today, I watch NHL hockey all the time. I listen to Jen between periods. She was one of the smartest players and you can tell from the way she analyzes the game. She’s a trailblazer in her own way, showing young girls there are lots of opportunities for women to stay in hockey, including NHL broadcasting, and that’s really inspiring.

What was your reaction when Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin announced her engagement to teammate Laura Stacey in May?

My God, I was so happy! You know, they’re two of the most wonderful human beings, and I think they’re playing the best hockey they ever have. Laura has taken an incredible step, being really dominant, on the international stage and above all, they are loved by all. Two incredible leaders and teammates. I'm sure the likes [on social media] were incredibly high because when two wonderful people find love for one another, nothing can make you more happy than that.

I also salute their courage to announce it, because I think it’s still important today. Young people are struggling with their identities. It’s important that that we can live who we are and have the freedom to love who we love.

What do you enjoy the most about serving as a national team assistant coach?

I absolutely love getting to work with Team Canada under the leadership of Gina Kingsbury. I played with Gina for many years on Team Canada. She's an incredible leader and she really brings the staff together. Troy Ryan is our head coach right now, and very few of the coaches that I've worked with have been so open to hear everyone's feedback, but also direct, open, and honest. It has been really a great learning opportunity for me.

I love to study the game, study video, have one-on-one conversations and help players with little details of their games. I try to see beneath the surface, see how they're really doing individually. When you are happy, you play better. That’s an important aspect of what you do as a coach.

Interview conducted by WSI newsletter chief editor Lucas Aykroyd

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Media links and professional opportunities compiled by WSI newsletter assistant editor Peri Sheinin