ILLUSTRATING THE POWER of sport to act as a driver of gender equality, the “Breaking Barriers In Sports” photo exhibition was inaugurated today at the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), including portraits contributed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of female role models who are tackling gender inequality in sport, both on and off the field of play.
This new collection is a spin-off of the “Not a Women’s Job?” exhibition, launched by UNOG in 2022, with photos featuring women around the world who have contributed to breaking down barriers and stereotypes in professions traditionally associated with men. Women from the world of sport are now joining the astronauts, firefighters,
engineers and others, with the collection of photos submitted by the IOC of sporting game-changers.
Representing women from 26 countries, all five continents and 18 sports, the collection aims to inspire new generations to challenge negative stereotypes. Six categories from the world of sport are highlighted: high-performance athletes; grassroots sport; entourage; sports administration; sports media and broadcasting; and
sports science and academia.
The breadth of the categories is indicative of the intent to celebrate all those involved in sport, both on and off the field of play. Among those showcased in the photos are athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, community leaders and media representatives – each one of them strong female role models.
Among the new figures highlighted in the exhibition are three Olympian IOC Members who are paving the way for future generations: Others sports women featured include American bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, who, with five Olympic medals, is the most decorated black athlete in Olympic Winter Games history; Argentina’s Nerea Livoni, South America’s leading female rugby referee; and Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the world winner of the 2021 IOC Women and Sport Awards.
At the inauguration of the exhibition, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 18 July, IOC President Thomas Bach highlighted the important role sport can play in promoting positive social change.
“Sport and especially the Olympic Games, are an incredible platform to showcase women as inspirational role models. In sport, everyone is equal. The Olympic Games bring all people together in peaceful competition without discrimination: regardless of gender, sexual orientation, social status, religion or political belief. This gives sport the capacity to challenge social norms and pave the way for a more equal and inclusive society,” said President Bach. “The women and their personal stories in this exhibition are perfect examples of this potential becoming a reality.”
