The celebration of International Women’s Month was culminated by a 3-day conference on empowering women through sports. SWEEP, or Sport for Women Empowerment and Employment Program, has been at the forefront of gathering the most influential and impactful sports leaders worldwide. It aims to bridge like-minded athletes, educators, supporters, and organizations to push agenda and initiatives that enable women to reach their full potential through sports.
This year was the first time the conference was held virtually. The speakers included trailblazers like Keri McDonald of TAFISA, Trina Bolton of the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Kanae Haneishi of WomenSport International, and Mikee Jaworski of the IOC. IFMA Executive Member Pearl Managuelod was also a guest panelist together with Julia Govinden of United Through Sports in the Sport and Fitness in the Digital Space track. They presented the conceptualization and implementation of virtual competitions at the national and international levels.
It was a jam-packed conference as they tackled timely topics that face women in a challenging time like this. Day 2 included discussion on strategy and policy application for women in sports and women who win, showcasing notable female athletes as role models. Day 3 highlighted the training difference between genders and sharing real-life experiences of athletes and sports entrepreneurs succeeding in the new normal.
SWEEP is organized by the Sport Management Council of the Philippines. This year’s conference was co-presented by ESPN, the University of Tennessee, the Global Mentoring Program, and the US Department of State Sports Diplomacy. AIMS and GAISF also granted SWEP special patronage in support of women’s month.
