The gender equality panel opened the diverse series of talks and presentations that took place on the penultimate day of the FISU Costa Rica 2022 Global Forum. Photo: Pablo Quesada/TEC.
- The fourth day of the Costa Rica 2022 FISU World Forum focused on gender equality in world of sports, with panelists from different countries
"Women represent up to 40% of the sports-population worldwide, but on average they only receive 4% of coverage and participation in the media", was the fact with which Mr. William Thompson -from the Education Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) - prompted the participants of the gender equality panel to give their opinion, this Thursday, December 8, during the fourth day of the Costa Rica 2022 FISU World Forum, which takes place at the Campus of Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC) in Cartago.
According to Gisselle Burbano, representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, it is fundamental for a society to understand the rights and strengthen the role of women in sports. "The fight is not only about advocating for gender equality, but also about working at the heart of evil and deconstructing the systems that do not allow quantitative and qualitative equity," said the expert in social and human sciences.
For Rosaura Méndez, FISU's Executive Committee member, great barriers have been broken down in the university and other organizations in society, but there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve total equality. She also emphasized the importance of allowing women to have a process from an early age that guarantees their access to sports during their entire lives.
"We need to work on programs that encourage activities for life, such as athletic groups and networks in our schools, since this allows students to fall in love with sports and continue their practice. When you enter
university, there is a struggle between studying and playing sports. That is why it is very important to work to create the conditions so that women can have the necessary requirements to continue in competitive sports," said Méndez, who also part of TEC's Athletics Department.
The auditorium of the Center for the Arts was also the venue for a dissertation by South African Marissa Langeni, who is the president of her country's University Sports Federation. The fact that most of the world's visual advertising for sports features men as protagonists was the starting point for the specialist to express her opinion.
"The visibility of women athletes is extremely important, and we must make sure that sports are perceived as a safe space for women. I come from a culture in which women only help with household chores and don't play sports, so what society projects is critical for girls to learn that sports are for them too. Empathy, understanding, and respect are the keys to an ideal equality," said Langeni.
Finally, French professor Arnaud Richard spoke about the work that has been done in his country on this issue. Studies on discrimination against women, promotion of Olympic values and other good practices were part of
the presentation made by this member of the FISU equality commission. "By law of the French Government, if a French, men’s, or women's national team reaches the final of a European or world tournament, the match must be broadcasted live and free of charge. Also, for some time now, we have been working with scholarships for female journalism students who will be in charge of covering the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris," explained Richard, who ended by leaving one of the most striking messages of the panel:
"Parity does not always mean equity, which is what is really important."
Reduction of inequalities
One of the presentations that took place during the penultimate day of the World Forum was "Reducing inequalities". In this space, expert Yoan Noguier revealed how the company he represents, called "Yunus Sports Hub", contributes as a social activator business in vulnerable populations.
"Sport has problems such as gender and wage inequality, racism, exploitation and concentration of wealth. Programs that help athletes start their own business give them an opportunity to have their financial freedom and be able to continue doing sport. Creating a culture of entrepreneurship in athletes is fundamental because it reminds them that they have to take care of themselves," said Noguier.
The use of sports infrastructure for additional activities such as health centers and lodging could represent another of the way in which a space can be self-sustaining. Examples such as a skating school for women in Afghanistan, which is self-sustaining thanks to the sale of T shirts throughout Europe, as well as a Colombian foundation that cleans beaches and subsists by selling surfboards made by its members, were among the ideas put forward by the businessman in his dissertation.
"Sports have the power to change the world," Nelson Mandela.
Thursday's agenda was complemented with presentations of student projects and workshops, which took place in the Center for the Arts, the auditorium of the D-3 building and in different classrooms throughout the Cartago Campus.
The closing activities of this historic World Forum will take place on Friday, December 9th, and will end at 2:30 p.m. with the closing ceremony at the Center for the Arts.
The Forum is organized by the Government of the Republic, the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the Tecnológico de Costa Rica, the National Council of Rectors (CONARE), the Local Government of Cartago, the University Sports Federation of Costa Rica (FedeU), UNESCO and the Ministry of Sports. The inauguration of the sixteenth edition of this event marks only
the second time that an American country has hosted the event, after Mexico did so in 2000.
The list of sponsors includes the College of Engineering Technologists (Citec), Incofer, the schools of Technical Education and Business Administration of Tecnológico de Costa Rica, FundaTEC, Asetec, Kolbi, Jasec, Fauna de Costa Rica, Esencial Costa Rica, Coopetarrazú, Costa Rica Rainforest, Thalagua and the National Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters.
