The Sport and Recreation Alliance was delighted to join over 900 delegates from around the world from 9-11 July, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport Global Summit 2026.
Attendees were captivated by a three-day programme that included speakers from the very top levels of sport, including: Kirsty Coventry OLY, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC); Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics; HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, IOC Executive Board Member and Jordan Olympic Committee President; Chris Boardman CBE, Chair of Sport England; Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport; and Dame Denise Lewis DBE OLY, President of UK Athletics – among many, many more.
The Alliance led the successful bid to bring the IWG on Women & Sport to the UK, and has provided secretariat support to the group during its tenure in the UK from 2022 to 2026. Alliance CEO, Lisa Wainwright MBE delivered a keynote speech on the final day of the conference, and was joined by Chair, Dame Janet Beer, as an honoured guest at the event.
The IWG on Women & Sport was founded in 1994 alongside the Brighton Declaration – a landmark global framework designed to advance women and girls in sport. The purpose of the organisation is simple: to open up more opportunities for women and girls, from playing fields to the podium, to be active and enjoy all the benefits that sport brings. The Global Summit brought leaders from across the globe together to work towards this goal, with the UK handing over hosting responsibilities to Brazil for the next four years at the end of the event to continue with the progress made.
Alliance CEO, Lisa Wainwright MBE, said:
“It was an incredible honour to be at the IWG Global Summit in Birmingham, alongside true leaders and sporting icons from across the world. The Alliance and IWG teams have worked tirelessly since winning the rights to host, and helping to convene the Global Summit and so many of our members was a brilliant culmination of everyone’s efforts.
“It was an outstanding showcase for the power of women’s sport, and the seemingly endless list of world-class speakers and delegates meant that truly powerful and consequential conversations were taking place every day.
“There was also an outstanding lineup of researchers presenting throughout the conference, helping to educate and inform delegates, and offer fresh perspectives and evidence on the immense benefits of women’s sport to society and to individuals across the world.
“It was a privilege to not only attend the event, but to deliver a keynote speech as well, and to see so many of our members in attendance too. We will collaborate members to ensure that we can act upon the many learnings that we all took away from the event, and help to make sport a more equitable place in this country.”
With thanks to Getty Images for all pictures featured in this article.
A joint contribution from the Sport and Recreation Alliance, /Together, Sport England and the Eden Project.
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