FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR – JULY/AUGUST 2021

Olympic Games

Just over a year ago, many of us wouldn’t have believed there would be an Olympic Games to celebrate. The path to these Games has been longer and filled with more obstacles than we have ever experienced in history. However, despite the odds, here we are at the end of the 32nd Olympiad, celebrating not just an historic Tokyo Games, but also the power of sport to inspire and unite us all.

The stands may not have been filled with fans in Tokyo, but we were all there in spirit, watching in record numbers over 19 days. With many parts of the world in lockdown, these Games proved to be very timely – as social media followers and television watching exploded.

One of the most positive outcomes of these Games were the number of events for women. While long overdue, this year, the number of women’s events was equal to the number of events for men. Additionally, the news media did an amazing job covering female athletes from various sports and many countries while continuously dominating news cycles.

With such a large global audience, the Olympics is one of the major events with the capacity to influence the ideas of sports administrators, policy makers, analysts and spectators worldwide on gender equality in sports.

Congratulations to the people of Japan, the Organizing Committee, the volunteers and all involved in the very successful and unique Olympic Games. Wishing Japan continued success with the Paralympics. The Opening Ceremony was amazing and the Games got off to a great start. After having to overcome so much adversity, the Paralympians serve to remind us – and inspire us – that anything is possible.

International Congress

IAPESGW’s major event is drawing near, with our 19th International Quadrennial Congress with Tianjin University of Sport, China, from September 8-10, 2021. Review the program.

International Congress will be stream live via Zoom, and features speakers from around the globe addressing major topics for girls and women in sport and physical education.

At the conclusion of the Congress there will be a Members Meeting and announcements of the IAPESGW Awards and the new Executive Board.

Thank you!

Many, many thanks to our outgoing Board members who have given years of valuable and wonderful voluntary service to IAPESGW:

• Gladys Bequer
• Cuba
• 8 Years
  
• Rosa Lopez de D’Amico
• President + Board Member
• Venezuela
• 15 Years
  
• Janice Crosswhite
• Vice President + Communication Director
• Australia
• 16 Years

Good luck and very best wishes to the new Executive Board.

A very special mention of outgoing President Rosa…
who has given outstanding service to IAPESGW, culminating this year in hundreds of hours of emails, meetings and phone calls to coordinate and deliver the upcoming Congress.

My big thanks to IAPESGW for the privilege of serving on the Board and the pleasure of sharing and working together with like-minded global friends to achieve our goals.

Again, stay well, think positively and keep active!

Janice Crosswhite OAM
crosswhite@bigpond.com

READ THE INTERNATIONAL UPDATE