Austria
Female Leaders in Olympism and Training
Countries
Austria, Slovenia, Africa
Organization(s) Involved
TAFISA, ENSE – European Network of Sport Education, Slovenian Olympic Committee, African Union Sport Council Region 5
Description of the Practice
FLOT is a transnational Erasmus+ Sport project that aims to advance gender equality by fostering the development of female leaders in the international sport movement, with a particular emphasis on Olympism, leadership skills, and intercultural dialogue. The project brings together sport education and governance institutions from Europe and Africa
Main Objectives
- Strengthen the presence and influence of women in sport leadership roles across continents
- Promote Olympic values such as respect, equality, and solidarity as foundations for inclusive leadership
- Develop and pilot an innovative training curriculum to empower emerging female leaders
Key Activities
- Needs assessment and gap analysis on women in leadership in European and African contexts
- Co-creation of a modular leadership training curriculum rooted in Olympic values and gender equity
- Cross-continental training labs, workshops, and mentoring activities
- Dissemination through conferences, digital learning, and open educational resources
Target Groups
- Women in early-to-mid stages of sport leadership careers
- Olympic committees, sport federations, and sport education institutions
Results / Impact
- A tested and transferable curriculum for gender-sensitive leadership in sport
- Enhanced international cooperation between Europe and Africa on gender and sport education
- Increased competence, confidence, and visibility among participating women leaders
Challenges Faced
- Addressing diverse cultural and institutional barriers across partner regions
- Ensuring sustainability and long-term institutional uptake beyond project lifetime
Transferability
The FLOT leadership curriculum and toolkit are designed as open-access resources that can be adapted by sport federations, coaching programs, and educational institutions globally.
Link
Through a Gender Lens – Young Women in Sports
Countries
Austria, Portugal, Türkiye, Czech Republic, Spain
Organization(s) Involved
Youth Power Austria, AENIE (Portugal), Ordu Youth Center & Active Cities Association (Türkiye), European Youth Center Břeclav (Czech Republic), Asociación Cultural y Deportiva La Hoya (Spain)
Description of the Practice
This transnational Erasmus+ project, led by Youth Power Austria, addresses the persistent gender imbalance in youth sports participation. It was designed to counter the high dropout rates among girls and young women in sports and promote equal access to sport and physical activity through a gender-mainstreamed, youth-centered approach. The project actively involved 30 young women and 6 group leaders over a 7-day intensive learning exchange and continues with follow-up implementation through a piloting phase in partner organizations.
Main Objectives
- Promote equal participation of young women in sports activities across Europe
- Tackle social, cultural, and institutional barriers leading to girls’ dropout from sport
- Foster motivation, relevance, and accessibility in sport through a gender-responsive coaching lens
- Support European cooperation among youth and sport organizations to share solutions
- Develop sustainable strategies and toolkits for inclusion in local coaching practices
Key Activities
- Youth-led focus groups and survey “What’s Stopping Women Being More Active?”
- Toolkit development: “How to Make Sports Better for Women and Coaching through a Gender Lens”
- Mentoring of young women by trained coaches and facilitators
- Gender-inclusive volleyball tournament to build confidence and teamwork
- Launch of the Be an Ambassador for Women piloting phase within partner youth organizations
- Establishment of women’s councils within youth sport structures
- Personal development programs supporting women’s leadership and sport involvemen
Target Groups
- Girls and young women (15–30) with limited access to sport opportunities
- Licensed coaches and sport youth leaders promoting gender-responsive practices
- Youth organizations implementing gender-equality measures in sport
Results / Impact
- Youth Power Austria and other partner organizations committed to raising female sport participation by 50–60% in their local programs
- Introduction of inclusive coaching techniques and women-led decision-making bodies
- Positive increases in motivation, self-esteem, and retention among young female athletes
- Enhanced youth citizenship and intercultural exchange aligned with EU values and the European Year of Youth 2022
Transferability
Project materials such as surveys, toolkits, and workshop templates are available in English and can be translated and adapted by other youth or sport organizations. The model is suitable for youth groups, schools, and federations.
Link
https://yp-at.org/projects/through-a-gender-lens-young-women-in-sports