The Role of Sports Photography in Promoting Gender Equality: A Special Recognition

I am thrilled to announce that the above photograph, "The Nurse Champion," has been selected as a finalist in the "Overpower. Overcome. Overtake" international photography competition.

The competition was organized by the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport (GO), based in Lausanne and established to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in all their diversity in and through physical education, physical activity, and sport (PEPAS).

This initiative originated from UNESCO’s 4th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS IV) in Athens, Greece, in 2003. The commitment to the GO was reinforced by the 2017 Kazan Action Plan (KAP) at MINEPS VI, in Kazan, Russia and further reaffirmed at MINEPS VII in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2023, with support from over 100 member states.?

This recognition is not only a personal achievement but also an opportunity to explore the evolving role of sports in advancing gender equality.

The wonderful story of Pamela Malvina "Noucho"Sawa

Pamela Malvina “Noutcho” Sawa, won the EBU Silver lightweight title on April 5th, 2024, in Bologna (Italy) against British champion Jordan Barker Porter.

Pamela left Cameroon when she was only eight years old to join her father in Italy, moving to Bologna in 2014 to study nursing. During an internship at a homeless shelter, she discovered boxing, growing stronger everyday training at Bolognina Boxe, Bologna’s “popular” gym.

In 2021, she won the Italian title in the Elite Absolute category, in 2023 she was granted Italian citizenship, and on 2024, finally conquered the EBU title.

When I first shared this news with a colleague of mine, the question I was asked was: 'Why did you choose that shot instead of the classic action on the ring for this photography competition?'

I vividly remember the moment when Pamela lifted the sparkling belt outside the edge of the ring —it was somewhat overlooked by the photographers present because it wasn't "official".

The joy of Pamela and her friends under the ring was contagious, symbolizing the strength of her story and the strong bond with the Bologna community. I couldn't help but be swept away by it!

But the image taken after Malvina's boxing match that moved me the most is the one below. That hug and the expression in her eyes tell the whole story.

But this is just one of the many stories awarded by Go

While looking at the images of the other finalists and winners, I realized the power of what was conveyed in often very simple photographs. And the hope encapsulated in each of them, which can be viewed on the GO website at this link.

These ones by Sudip Maiti and Praveen Dhavale, India, are among my favorites.

In Kolkata, India, a woman participating in a marathon ran the entire race without any footwear. Women’s long- distance running has always been burdened with social stigma and inhibitions in India. But running plays a key role in liberating and empowering women across ages as more and more women are taking part in distance running events in recent years. As a result, an Indian women’s team took silver in the 2022 IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships in Bangalore while Sufiya Khan was awarded two Guinness World Records in endurance running

Overpower – Set in a rural village in India, the gender expectations have been reversed as the boys’ cheer on the keeper as she looks to clear the ball. In India, girls and women are overwhelmingly sidelined in sports. Only 11% of registered football players are girls.

Overtake – Every weekend, these girls chalk the grounds and weave the nets to prepare for their match day. In addition to their schoolwork, at a very early age, girls in India have extra responsibilities of cooking and cleaning their home. Inspired by sports, the girls work hard to finish schoolwork and family responsibilities so that they may arrive at the grounds on time to help set up their own pitch.

Overcome – Peering through this window onto the pitch, the community can see confident and strong girls, fighting hard to score goals. These valuable life characteristics are not often encouraged in their community lives. Sports give them the opportunity to develop and grow as strong individuals. These boys on the sidelines are not just fans of a simple football match; they are witnesses to a transformed generation of girls defying stereotypes, surmounting obstacles and breaking through barriers through sports.

Gender Equality in sports: Tokyo vs Paris Olympics

Sport therefore as a means to break down gender diversity and empower women and girls. But where are we at? Perhaps a comparison between the last two editions of the Olympics can provide a fairly reliable overview of the world scenario and above all its rapid evolution.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics:

• Gender Representation: Tokyo 2020 marked significant progress with female athletes making up 48.8% of the participants, a notable increase from previous Games. This was the highest proportion of female competitors in Olympic history up to that point.
• Media Representation: In Tokyo 2020, women comprised approximately 27% of the media professionals accredited for the Games, including photographers and videographers. While this was an increase from previous years, it highlighted ongoing disparities in gender representation within the media industry covering the Olympics
• Disciplines: The inclusion of sports like skateboarding and surfing, traditionally less represented, highlighted a broader range of gender participation. However, traditional sports like boxing and weightlifting still showed significant gender disparities in representation.

Paris 2024 Olympics: (These are projections, actual data in the coming months)

• Gender Representation: Paris 2024 aims to achieve gender parity with women expected to represent 50% of the athletes, a landmark goal for the Olympics. This will be the first time in Olympic history that female competitors are anticipated to equal or surpass their male counterparts.
• Media Representation: For Paris 2024, there is a strong push to increase female participation in the media. Organizers are targeting a 35% representation of women among media professionals covering the Games, a significant step towards more balanced gender representation in sports media.
• Disciplines: Paris 2024 will feature new sports and events to enhance gender inclusivity, including the addition of disciplines such as breakdancing, which is expected to offer new opportunities for both female and male athletes. Traditional sports like athletics and swimming will see increased female participation, continuing the trend towards balance

The progress from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024 reflects a significant shift towards gender equality in the Olympic movement. The increased focus on equal representation not only highlights the growing importance of inclusivity but also sets a new standard for future Games.

Gender equality in sports media production at the Olympics?

As a sports photographer, I am inspired by these developments and committed to using my work to further advocate for gender equality and diverse representation in sports. But it does not all depend on me..

To quote a recent article by IOC:

“Recognizing the gender gap found across various broadcast roles, OBS is determined to make a change and set an example for the industry at large,” said Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer of OBS. “By empowering women with the skills and experiences needed to thrive in production, editorial or technical roles, we hope to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse broadcast environment in sport.”

The number of women in the venue production teams will also be increased, with an emphasis on roles that produce images, with the hopes that this will lead to more equal portrayal between male and female athletes at the Games.

It is too early to see whether the number of women in venue production team is actually increased from the 10 percent quoted by Anthony Edgar 's in his blog in 2022.

“ The press accreditations of major events going back decades show that women represent only 12–20 percent of press categories reporting from major events. For sports photographers, this number is even less, often less than 10 percent of accredited photographers.”

IOC not only hoped for more equal portrayal between male and female athletes at the game, but also updated the Portrayal Guidelines for gender-equal, fair and inclusive representation adding specific guidelines as those in the following slide concerning imagery

In my opinion, these Guidelines are dictated by common sense and respect for those who have made enormous sacrifices to participate in the Olympics. Respect which I think should still be the basis of any relationship, regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality and age.

Respect. First

This was the other photograph I sent to the GO competition, depicting Michel "Mich" Vescovini (22 yrs, on the left).

In 2024 Mich won the prestigious Les Ceintures international tournament in her category and the gold medal at the Italian FPI, and also triumphant at the 2023 WBL Tournament in Pompeii, she has 29 official matches under her belt, of which 22 victories and 7 defeats.

And now she teaches boxing, fearless and humble, as depicted in the image above. And sometimes her class is composed by agonists, mainly men, many of the older than she is, Respect, one of the fundamentals of boxing, always prevails, even when your coach is a woman.

To my great surprise, I saw this image among those selected for the exhibition: 'Overpower. Overtake. Overcome: A Visual Tribute to Women & Sport' at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. That was totally unexpected and filled me with emotions.

Knowing that the stories of Pamela and Michel are making their way around the world fills me with joy. I hope their determination and courage continue to inspire many other women to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.

PS Last but not least, I would love to thank Lisa Travella Murawsky a dear friend and Sports Director of Naandi Foundation in charge of creating a "Sport for Life" program for 180,000 underserved girls aged 6-15 in India, who first informed me about the GO photography competition. Grazie Lisa!