IOC joins as a Supporting Partner of the 9th IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport

International Olympic Committee Joins 9th IWG Global Summit to Accelerate Gender Equity in Sport.

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport is proud to announce the renewal of its long-standing collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has signed on as a Supporting Partner for the upcoming 9th IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport , taking place 9-11 July 2026 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, UK.

This announcement coincides with the launch of public ticket sales for the Summit, the world’s foremost gathering focused on advancing gender equality in and through sport and physical activity.

The IWG exists to level the playing field, working towards a simple goal: ensuring women and girls everywhere have the opportunity to thrive in sport. This partnership solidifies the IOC's commitment to that vision.

"I am delighted that the IOC will continue their support for the IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport, helping us bring together senior decision makers and policy makers to be part of the solution in creating a sporting system where all women and girls can thrive”

said IWG Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY.

“The convening power of the IWG ‘network of networks’, allied with that of the Olympic Games and the IOC’s commitment to gender equality, will help us establish the Summit as the ‘Davos’ of women’s sport, with a three-day programme bringing together the latest research and insights delivered by inspiring speakers from around the world, all focused on what works.”

Marie Sallois, IOC Director of Corporate and Sustainable Development, said: “The IOC is pleased to support the IWG Global Summit 2026 and to strengthen our shared commitment to promoting gender equality in and through sport.

“The IOC and the IWG on Women & Sport first joined forces more than 30 years ago with the signing of the Brighton Declaration. Since then, both organisations have continued to work tirelessly to advance common goals, including enhancing the visibility of female athletes, increasing gender-balanced leadership, breaking down barriers so that all women and girls can benefit from sport, accelerating innovation, and driving greater investment in women’s sport."

“We look forward to taking stock of the progress made and ensuring that this important journey continues.”

Adds Marie Sallois, IOC Director of Corporate and Sustainable Development.

The collaboration will see the IOC play an active role in delivering ideas that drive action:

• Leading the Conversation: An IOC representative will deliver a keynote address at the Summit, and the IOC will co-lead five Regional Sessions to ensure diverse global perspectives are heard.

  
  

• Shift Sessions: The IOC will contribute expert insight into the development of specific Shift Sessions – the IWG's deep-dive workshops designed to unpack urgent questions around Visibility and Participation.

  
  

• Knowledge that Fuels Change: The IOC will act as a key contributor to the IWG Insight Hub, a global knowledge centre providing free access to the cutting-edge research and practical toolkits needed to tackle barriers on the ground.

Delegates can now secure their place at the 2026 Summit. The three-day programme is built around five critical themes: Investment, Leadership, Visibility, Innovation, and Participation.

This is an unmissable opportunity to join 1,200 leaders, athletes, and policymakers in Birmingham to challenge the status quo and drive systemic change.

To book your spot and join the movement, visit: www.iwgglobalsummit2026.org