The GAMES project is a 24-month project co-funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Sport Programme 2021 and coordinated by the EOC EU Office. It promotes integrity and good governance in sports by advocating for structural and cultural changes regarding gender equality in leadership and decision-making positions among NOCs and their member federations.
The EOC EU Office is implementing GAMES together with 8 NOCs (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, North Macedonia and Turkey) and renowned experts in the field of gender equality and good governance, including Professor Emerita Kari Fasting from Equal Rights in Sports and I TRUST Sport. Furthermore, the GAMES project is supported by the International Olympic Committee.
The Final Conference, which took place on International Women's Day in Brussels, was moderated by Sukran Albayrak (Turkish Olympic Committee) and Robert Hartnett (Irish Olympic Committee) and it provided a better understanding of the final steps needed to boost gender equality in the leadership of sports organizations and presented the tools the GAMES project has developed for this purpose.
Folker Hellmund (Director, EOC EU Office) and Cédric van Branteghem (Secretary General, Belgian Olympic Committee) officially opened the GAMES Final Conference. Accordingly, the relevance of gender equality for sports organizations was underlined whilst showcasing the importance of the GAMES project to support sporting organizations to improve their good governance standards in terms of gender equality. Participating NOCs as well as the IOC, the European Commission were thanked for supporting NOCs on their way to gender equality.
In the last part of the Final Conference, speakers presented complementary initiatives and programs for the lasting legacy of GAMES within the Olympic movement. Maja Poljak (EU Funds & International Cooperation Coordinator, Croatian Olympic Committee) described the alignment of the Croatian Olympic Committee with the objectives and values of the GAMES project, using the opportunity to hold the presentation on the Croatian Olympic Committee’s projects and achievements on promoting the gender equality in female sports as well as promoting women in the sports industry. It was a great opportunity to showcase the exemplary achievements of the intense work and dedication of the Gender Equality Commission of NOC Croatia, under the leadership of its president Mrs. Morana Palikovic Gruden once again promoting NOC Croatia as an active player in this topic.
The Final Conference concluded with the reiterations of the GAMES project leaving a significant and positive impact on gender equality in sports, especially at the leadership level. The audience as well as the GAMES consortium was thanked for their time and commitment to gender equality in sports governance during and beyond the project; accordingly, were invited to continue boosting gender equality across Europe.
For more information on the project click here.
