EWS committee
Driving Change: CNOSF Advances Opportunities for Women in Sport
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) gathered leading voices from across the sports ecosystem to reaffirm its commitment to advancing gender equality in sport. Experts, federation leaders, journalists, entrepreneurs and athletes came together at the Maison du sport français for a dedicated moment of dialogue and action.
During the event, CNOSF President Amélie Oudéa‑Castéra and Annamarie Phelps, co-President of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG), also formalised the CNOSF’s commitment to the global Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration. By signing this landmark declaration promoting balanced representation of women and men across all areas of sport—from governance and participation to media coverage and employment—the CNOSF joins a worldwide network of organisations driving systemic change alongside ENGSO and several of its members.
A highlight of the event was the recognition of Michele Kang, who received the European-level IOC Champions of Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award following a nomination supported by the CNOSF Executive Board. Through her leadership in women’s football, Kang has championed a clear vision: providing women’s sport with the same resources as men’s sport to unlock its full performance, visibility and economic potential.
The initiative reflects tangible progress in France. Female sport participation continues to grow, with record numbers of women license holders and increasing representation in sports governance. Building on this momentum, the CNOSF is accelerating efforts through concrete initiatives such as expanding the “Club des 300 femmes dirigeantes” programme, strengthening support for female athletes’ health, improving gender-sensitive sports infrastructure, and launching the Sport Without Violence Foundation in 2026 to combat gender-based and sexual violence in sport.
With these actions, the CNOSF sends a clear message: advancing gender equality in sport is not only a priority on 8 March—it is a commitment that must be pursued every day of the year.
You are an ENGSO member and want to become a signatory? We would be delighted to support you in this journey. Get in touch with the ENGSO secretariat [email protected] or the EWS Committee [email protected]
