Handover Process Underway with Brazil

IWG Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe MBE and Global Executive Board Member Dr Rosaura Mendez Gamboa this month visited Brazil following the announcement in January that the Brazil Olympic Committee (COB) has been selected as the next host of IWG Women & Sport 2026-2030.

Coinciding with the COB Fórum Mulher no Esporte (Women in Sport Forum) the trip was an opportunity to begin the formal handover process between the UK and Brazil Secretariats, meet a range of key sport and/or gender equality partners and consider how to use the 9^th IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport to help the Brazil team hit the ground running.

This was the first opportunity for Annamarie, Rosaura and Lisa to join the COB team including Yane Marques (COB Vice President & incoming IWG Co-Chair), Emanuel Rego (Director General COB), Manoela Penna (COB Director of Communications, Marketing and Olympic Values), Sebastian Pereira (Education and Development Executive Manager), and Renata Zamprogno, (Executive Secretary) in person to work through the detail of the handover between the UK and Brazil.

Reflecting on the trip, Annamarie Phelps said:

‘It was four intense days of listening, talking and reflecting on the opportunity and learning from hosting IWG Women and Sport and the Global Summit. I thank the Brazilian Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of Sport, UN Women, the Senate Sports Commission and the Chamber of Deputies for the reception.’

Yane Marques, Olympic medalist and vice-president of the COB (Brazilian Olympic Committee), highlighted:

‘The presence of the IWG Secretariat in Brazil, on its first official visit to the country, symbolizes the recognition of the work that the Brazilian Olympic Committee has been developing in promoting gender equality in sport. The meetings in Brasilia reinforce the importance of dialogue between the Olympic Movement, the government and international organisations for the construction of deliberate and lasting policies aimed at promoting gender equality in and through sport’.

Brasilia (Monday 16 – Wednesday 18 March 2026)

The trip began with a series of meetings in Brasilia to talk through the priorities identified in the COB bid to host IWG Women & Sport and to reflect on how this might supercharge existing plans and priorities of partners including for the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup being hosted in Brazil from the 24 June to 25 July 2027.

It was a pleasure to meet with colleagues in the Ministry of Women and the Ministry of Sport before ending the day with the COB Women in Sport Commission.

The following day IWG

participated in the COB 3^rd Women in Sport Forum.  Hosted by two-time Olympic Champion Fabi Alvim, the event sought to broaden the debate and strengthen actions focused on promoting equality and inclusion of women and girls in and through sport and at different levels of the Olympic Movement.

Drawing together policy makers, practitioners, athletes, researchers, health professionals, representatives of international organisations and the media, the event focused on a range of themes:

• Equity Policies in the Olympic Movement: From Commitment to Implementation.

• Equality and Inclusion of Women in Sport: Mapping Sports Organisations and Best Practice.

• Care Pathway for Female Athletes: Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Return to High Performance.

• Gender Representation Guidelines: The Woman Portrayed by Society.

Annamarie had the opportunity to give a keynote explaining the work and impact of IWG Women & Sport, alert the audience to the opportunity of Brazil being selected as the next host, and the upcoming 9^th Global Summit on Women & Sport, before joining a discussion panel on Equity Policies in the Olympic Movement.

The day was topped off with the presentation of the Melânia Luz Award for significant contribution to the lives of women and girls.  This year the award was presented by the first lady Janja Lula da Silva to Maria Luciene Cacho Resende, Honorary President of the Brazilian Gymnastics Confederation.

The final day in Brasilia began with an early morning visit to Remo Brasilia, where Annamarie took the opportunity to join a female rowing team, which also included Manoela Penna (COB Director of Communications, Marketing and Olympic Values) during their morning training session.

This was followed by a series of meetings with more stakeholders including members of the Brazilian Federal Senate, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and UN Women before heading back to the airport to fly back to Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro (Thursday 19 March 2026)

Lisa and Annamarie spent their final full day in Brazil with COB colleagues. Beginning by dropping into a COB colleague event focused on the role and importance of male allies before heading to the superb Brazil Training Centre to watch several squads training, meet some of the athletes and better understand the approach to COB to preparing Team Brazil athletes.

Then it was back to the COB offices to once again discuss arrangements for the handover of IWG Women & Sport on the 1 October 2026, and plans for the 9^th Global Summit in July.

Huge thanks to all the team at the Brazilian Olympic Committee for a really productive few day.