On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) organized at the Maison du Sport Français, a key event dedicated to strengthening the role of women in sport. Around thirty guests attended (experts in women’s sport, presidents of federations and decentralized CNOSF bodies, coaches, journalists, entrepreneurs, champions, leaders, etc.) involved in this topic, including Annamarie Phelps, Co-Chair of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG), and Michele Kang, notably President of OL Lyonnes and Olympique Lyonnais.

This moment of exchange gave Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, President of the CNOSF, the opportunity to welcome the awarding of the IOC Trophy “Champions of Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion” to Michele Kang at the European level—a candidacy supported by the CNOSF Executive Board before the IOC. Michele Kang works daily to promote gender equality in sport.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and Annamarie Phelps also took advantage of this day to officially sign the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration, an international reference text aimed at promoting balanced representation of women and men in all areas of sport: governance, participation, elite sport, media coverage, employment, etc.

By signing this agreement, which marks a new stage in its commitment, the CNOSF is proud to join a global network of organizations mobilized to strengthen opportunities for women and girls, alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and major National Olympic Committees (United States, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Norway, etc.).

On this occasion, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra also reviewed the progress already made in this field and the challenges ahead, recalling in particular the actions implemented and the CNOSF’s commitments on this key issue.