Paris Alumni Conference: Women and professional sports

TOPIC:

When we think of achievements in sports, it’s the men who immediately come to mind: Zinédine Zidane, Teddy Riner, Tony Parker, etc.  One rarely thinks of women who have made their mark on the world of sport, such as Marie-José Pérec, Laura Flessel, Laure Manaudou, and others.

The presenters on the "Women and Professional Sports” round table are all current sports champions in both France and abroad. They will discuss the news about the performance and values of sports in France and abroad. Why are women less represented in our collective imagination? There is certainly less media coverage of professional women’s sports. Coverage of women’s and men’s sports is not equal. It is true that women’s sports have come far. In the 19th century, women were not considered to be apt enough to play physical sports. A sexist view that discriminated against women to play sports any level. Women participated in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1900, in Paris. Only twenty-two women were amongst the 997 athletes who participated (2.2%), and competed in only five sports - tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian sports, and golf. Professional women’s sports were in the process of development.

The conference’s objective is to give voice to current champions so they can give their perspective on the environment of high-level sports, as well as share their stories about their paths and lives as a woman and athlete, and/or a mother. One of the speakers, Estelle Mossely, is one of the rare woman professional athletes who currently receives the most media attention, and she is a mother. In fact, most athletes don’t want to take the risk that their careers can end from one day to the next and decide, either by choice or by default, to put off having a child until after they retire. If society makes room for woman, can women athletes become fulfilled?

SPEAKERS: 

• Estelle MOSSELY, Olympic and world boxing champion
• Marie-Eve GAHIE, World judo champion
• Grace GEYORO, International French footballer and player for PSG
• Antoinette NANA DJIMOU, four-time European combined racing champion

These speakers - all champions in the sport they play each - increase the number of members of the four different sports federations by their victories. The create a true virtuous circle, not only in French sports, but also in all of society.  They inspire young women, and push them to believe in their dreams and fight for the path to accomplish them. They convey positive messages in French society.

Each one grew up with parents, and brothers and sisters in an environment that has pushed them to be who they are today - champions. They all have in common having experienced successes and failures, have a great sense of combativeness, and have opinions on what sporting excellence should be in France. These are the reasons why we wanted to open the debate on the state of women’s professional sports in France in 2019 via the viewpoints of practicing champions who excel in different sports. Antoinette Nana Djimou has mastered seven disciplines. Estelle Mossely, a computer engineer with a five-year university degree, juggles her life as a top athlete between France and the United States, her role as mother, and her duties at Allianz. They are the drivers of the economic and civic ecosystem in sports. They are role models who inspire, not only many other women, but also children and fathers. Finally, they are models of perseverance, healthy living, and daring – they are simply successful.

The conference will close with a discussion on the 2024 Olympic Games and their individual preparations for this major upcoming event, as well as their chances of winning medals for France.  

AGENDA:

REGISTRATION:

REGISTRATION CLOSES ON 2 DECEMBER