#100experts are women who really know about sport

#100Andexperts for sports is the new sector of the database which since 2016 it has made the names of qualified women available to the information system in increasingly diverse fields. It started with the online database of profiles of female STEM scientists, continued with Economics and Finance, International Politics, History and Philosophy. And now in a season of great achievements for women, she continues with sport.

The 100 women against stereotypes project is promoted by theGi.U.Li.A association journalists, from the Observatory of Pavia, developed thanks to the Bracco Foundation with the support of the Representation in Italy of the European Commission . The target: provide names of competent women to consult to comment on events and phenomena, to be invited to festivals, conferences and talks. In short to give women a voice in public debate, fight the “manels”, i.e. the panels of only men , and help break down the gender stereotypes that make you automatically choose a man when looking for an expert. In this case in sports. Between many women involved, university professors, managers with a sporting past, former athletes, sports law lawyers.

In Paris 2024 male and female athletes in equal numbers

«Gender parity in the number of male and female participants will be achieved at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. And there will be male and female versions of all races.” explained Claudia Giordani, former alpine skier and vice president of the Cones, which is part of the scientific committee of #100 sports experts. Giordani spoke at the presentation of the project which was held at the Allianz tower in Milan. «On the other hand, there are still large gender differences, at management level, technicians, as well as the protection of rights». According to the most recent data with women are 19.8 percent of coaches, 12.4 percent of federal executives.

Sports experts are not consulted

A gap that becomes even wider when it comes to informationthe context in which the #100experts project is located. Among sports professionals worldwide, the news focuses on women only 4 percent. When you turn pro, 14 percent of sports news stories are about female protagonists, 86 percent about men. But I’m not almost never consulted as experts” has explained Monia Azzalini researcher at the Pavia Observatory. The new database, which already collects over 50 profiles, ranges from professionals from the academic world, associations, federations, sports and former athletes.

#100experts is also an exhibition

«The #100expert project that enhances female expertise is very close to my heart» said Diana Bracco, President of the Bracco Foundation, who has always supported the initiative. With the support of the Foundation, the #100experts project has produced courses for information professionals, books and an exhibition A life as a scientist. The faces of the 100 experts which after touring Italy is now on the international exhibition circuit e will land in 2023 in Israel and Costa Rica.

The dictatorship of the “beautiful and good”

In Italy the imbalance regarding women in the media is even more marked .Women of sport have only 3 percent visibility versus 97 percent for men. “AND the gap persists in terms of quality» he added Paola Abbiezzi who directs the Master Communicating sport of the Catholic University of Milan. When the spotlight is on a woman, the conversation too often slips up how she is dressed, family management, physical appearance, instead of enhancing the technical performance. The binomial “Beautiful and good” is slow to break.

The commitment for Cortina 2026

«The #100experts for sport project has the merit of lighting a beacon on this issue by entrusting us with a concrete commitment in this direction. The names are there, the skills are there and they are precious. We must continue on the path we have taken,” he concluded Andrea Varnier CEO of the Organizing Committee of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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