IWG is 30!

May is a special month for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport as it begins its Pearl Anniversary celebrations on Tuesday 7th May.

Marking 30 years since its establishment in Brighton, the IWG will host a series of events to commemorate being the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equality in sport and physical activity since its inception in 1994.

Alongside a new logo to acknowledge the 30 years and a free e-book written by Professor Elizabeth Pike charting the history for the organisation, IWG also announced earlier this week the launch of its new ‘IWG Webinar Series’ which begins on 7th May.With more sporting organisations lined up to sign the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration, an update on the Anita White Fund due imminently, plus additional activations set to be announced throughout the year, the Pearl Anniversary is set to be a real celebration of the progress the IWG has made as the momentum builds towards to the IWG Global Summit in 2026 in Birmingham, UK.

Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, chair of the IWG Secretariat, said: “It’s remarkable to think it’s been 30 years since the first global conference on women and sport took place, from which the IWG and the Brighton Declaration was born."

“IWG’s Pearl Anniversary is an opportunity for everyone involved in the women and sport movement to reflect on the fantastic progress which has been made as a result of the first conference, but also a reminder to us all that we still face huge challenges in achieving true gender parity – challenges which we believe will be best overcome by strengthening the IWG network."

“There’s plenty to look forward to over the coming 12 months as we celebrate our 30th year, and a highlight for me will be hearing from one of our founders and a respected leader in the field, Dr Anita White OBE, who will be a special guest on the first episode of the IWG Webinar Series this Tuesday 7th May.”