International Women’s Sports Summit

Launching the Summit

Welcome.

Renowned Olympian and Title IX expert Donna deVarona joins All-American swimmer Riley Gaines and co-founders Kim Jones and Marshi Smith to share the importance and history of voices advocating for women in sport.

Sports are an amazing gift for the world. They must be accessible to everyone, and safeguarding that access for women is vital. Sports are a microcosm of society and reflect how we treat people. Why does this mean sports must be fair and impartial? What are the implications for women?

• Donna deVarona, OLY
• Riley Gaines
• Kim Jones
• Marshi Smith

What’s At Stake?

Perhaps better than anyone, brilliant thought leader, journalist and author Helen Joyce will make sense of where we are today. Why we are needed — if not required — to safeguard the rights and protections of girls and women. Joyce is in Denver from the United Kingdom to share with you her fearlessness and fortitude. 

Next, Harvard Scientist and evolutionary biologist Carole Hooven discusses how scientific truth and integrity are vital to society and why we must defend them. The Enlightenment, the pursuit of knowledge, and the scientific method underpin our democratic ideals, our understanding of the world and good policy. But what happens when forces disrupt and block them? Carole Hooven gives a firsthand perspective on why bravely championing scientific research, open expression, and free thought is incumbent upon, and indeed essential, for all of us.  

Sports are a flashpoint for women’s rights. Current policy has taken a quiet 20 year journey to arrive where it is without much public awareness. How did we go from gender testing to self-declaration so quickly? Who had influence and who supported these changes? Eminent coach and heptathlete Linda Blade of Canada gives a forest-level overview of women’s sports policy. The IOC and USOPC influence legislation and standards around the world and at every level.* Paradoxically, they have also initiated a balkanization of policies allowing conflict everywhere.

* International Olympic Committee (IOC), United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). 

• Helen Joyce, PhD
• Carole Hooven, PhD
• Linda Blade, PhD

Language and Policy

Another brilliant trio discusses why the tool of language is essential to policy. They will go from an overview to specific laws, then onto sports policy. Author, lawyer and WDI- USA President Kara Dansky, JD begins with a historical perspective on how clear language is the basis of all protections and rights for women and girls. 

The Vice President for Policy of the Independent Women’s Forum, Hadley Manning, gives insights into recently crafted legislation, such as the Women’s Bill of Rights. The clarification of our common understanding of basic sex-based words has become vital. Manning surveys the language war defending female opportunities, privacy, and safety around the USA. 

Crucially, the alliance for women’s sports has gone global. Ro Edge — a co-founder of the International Consortium on Female Sport — has come from New Zealand to explain how united and consistent advocacy has to be a bedrock for women around the world. She shares the language female sports advocates have agreed to use across nations and languages in order to seek consensus on policy protecting women.

• Kara Dansky, JD (WDI)
• Hadley Manning
• Ro Edge (ICFS)

The Commodification of Women

Psychologist Suzanne Vierling shares a unique perspective on why we are seeing the dismantling and destruction of women’s sports and spaces. She will talk through modern and historical concepts of colonization, commodification and conquest linking them to women’s fight for equality over time. Prepare to see women’s rights in a new light.

• Dr. Suzanne Vierling

Olympians Sharron Davies and Lorraine Moller

Two fierce Olympic medalists join us to talk about their journey and the fight for women’s sports. Sharron Davies recently published her book, Unfair Play: The Battle For Women’s Sport, after spending years advocating for women and a career facing doping competitors. Lorraine Moller competed in four Olympics and was part of the evolution of women scratching out a place to compete in distance running.

• Sharron Davies, OLY
• Lorraine Moller MBE, OLY

Ingredients of Safe and Just Governing Body Policy

Saturday morning’s panel is a blockbuster. Sey, Pike, Hilton, and Tucker are long-standing experts in their fields who turn questions about governing bodies inside out. In the process, you are guaranteed to gain insights and knowledge that back up the common-sense reaction to protect women’s sports. The panel ends with a first-rate discussion with the audience (and includes an intermission). 

“Not again?!” you say when another sex scandal shocks the sports world. Champion gymnast and former Levi’s Brand President Jen Sey explains how our athletic institutions sometimes fail. What does it take to ensure the integrity of sport? Why are women too often ignored in their own sports? Best-selling author Sey will engage you on how governing bodies paradoxically can go awry and why they need to step up.

Then, British philosophy and ethics Professor Jon Pike explores the how and why of the philosophy of sport. The IOC, WADA, USADA and world governing bodies of sport have called upon Pike to share his expertise exploring the moral conflicts in sports policy.* Most insightfully, he examines what happens when policies become distorted, and harms to women and girls are overlooked. What is happening today and how can we avoid sacrificing female athletes? 

Data science expert and biology Professor Emma Hilton (famous as “fond of beetles”) returns with her expertise on sex development, updating a host of topics. Deepen your understanding of how sex influences development and performance, beginning in utero. Dr. Hilton has published on sex differences and testosterone suppression as much as anyone in the world. Science keeps progressing, and policy debates have shifted. Hilton will discuss the heartening 2023 developments in World Athletics and UK Athletics policy. The basis: actual data and objective analysis should lead to good, clear policy. 

The next panelist — World Rugby Head Scientist Ross Tucker, PhD — has also consulted with multiple governing bodies around the world. Dr. Tucker will explicate how safe and sensible policy has resulted from apolitical data analysis and systemic processes and sometimes has been ignored. The implications for other sports and countries are clear.

*International Olympic Committee (IOC), United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

• Jennifer Sey
• Jon Pike, PhD
• Emma Hilton, PhD
• Ross Tucker, PhD

Psychological War on Women

We will explore concepts of abuse, consent, shame, and silence with psychologist and author Dr Pamela Paresky and social psychologist and domestic violence expert, Dr Dina McMillan. How can we recognize an abusive situation in sport and why is this important? How are current policies and practices in sport removing the empowerment sport is supposed to provide women?

This panel will likely make the news for its athlete participants. For the first time, three NCAA D1 swimmers (Riley Gaines, Paula Scanlan, and Kylee Alons) will appear together. 

Bicycling is a rampant hotspot for women’s rights, and mountain biking champion Holly LaVesser will also speak out. 

Policies and practices shaped by sports leadership impact the emotional and psychological state of women and girls, in sport and in broader society. We cannot ignore the individual and societal effects when women and girls are shamed into silence or told they can’t expect their governing bodies to ensure fair and safe sport.

• Pamela Paresky, PhD
• Dina McMillan, PhD
• Riley Gaines
• Penn Swimmer, Paula Scanlan
• Holly LaVesser
• Kylee Alons

Law: US Cases | Governing Bodies | International Women’s Rights

Updates on the US federal court decisions and cases contesting sex-based protections relevant to sport in the United States will be given by an attorney directly involved in the cases, Christiana Kiefer, JD. Kiefer will also explain how cases impact policy making.

The role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the history of investment (millions of dollars spent) in ensuring a level playing field will be discussed by former General Counsel of USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) and lead counsel for the Lance Armstrong investigation, William Bock, JD.

What are the international treaties and what is adopted international law on women’s rights? Where are policies and standards in violation of these rights in the United States and around the world? A conversation led by lawyers, Katherine Deves of Australia and Irene Aguiar of Spain.

• Christiana Kiefer, JD
• William Bock, JD
• Katherine Deves
• Irene Aguiar – sports law (Spain)

Beyond Elite – This One’s for the Girls

What are the considerations that need to be taken into account for youth, developmental, and masters-level competition? Are sex-separated opportunities important for women and girls outside of elite competition. Why is this important? Do women need to reach elite-level status in order to have access to fair sports?

Dr Greg Brown shares the data from pre-puberty athletic performance studies from around the globe.

Olympian Mara Yamauchi discusses the importance of grass-roots sports development and mental and physical health for women and girls as critical to an enormous percentage of the world’s population.

• Greg Brown, PhD
• Mara Yamauchi, OLY

International State of Women’s Sports

Sunday starts with another panel that just by itself makes attending the Sports Summit worthwhile. Olympians, legal minds, and leaders of women’s sports organizations from around the globe are joining us to discuss the state of women’s sports. See the list below! 

Discrimination on the basis of sex is an issue facing women and girls around the world. What are the circumstances and similarities female athletes are facing? How are women rising up together to ensure women’s sports has a strong and positive future?

• Fiona McAnena, Fair Play for Women, UK
• Sharron Davies, OLY
• Ro Edge (ICFS)
• Lorraine Moller MBE, OLY
• Irene Aguiar
• Linda Blade, PhD

Determining Eligibility, Biology of Sex

Professor Colin Wright will help you avoid the rabbit holes that too often befall discussions around sex-based categories. His topics include discussing what methods are available to help us determine eligibility and how sex testing is simple, non-intrusive, and effective. (And sometimes beneficial for health). What are the concerns over such testing, and how do we address them? Is everyone covered? He’ll also shine light on disorders of sexual developments (DSDs).

Of course, Wright begins with foundational principles: the dividers between males and females. You’ll go away with confidence knowing what is a female, as well as a male, and all questions answered.

• Colin Wright, PhD

Title IX and Legislation

Another trio of top experts leading a panel!  US swimming Olympian Nancy Hogshead, JD (WSPWG) joins with Doreen Denny (of CWA) and Elizabeth Fedak, PhD (WoLF), to explain two vital topics for the USA: the Biden administration’s rewrite of Title IX equating sex to gender identity and state legislation protecting women’s sports. 

What is the current status of Title IX and what can we expect when the new regulations drop? What are the foreseen impacts on sports around the country, from elementary school to college? How will it be tested by leaders and lawmakers? What exactly has the Biden Administration proposed — in particular the Pandora’s Box of equating gender ID with sexual ID. 

Another huge development is state legislation to protect women’s sports. Now passed in over 20 states! Has a tipping point been reached? Or a stalemate? And what happens when the states begin to conflict with each other, the NCAA, and the federal government. This panel will map the landscape. Get your questions answered.

• Doreen Denny
• Nancy Hogshead, JD, OLY
• Elizabeth Fedak, PhD, WoLF

Let’s Go! What Can I Do?

The Sports Summit ends with the questions foremost in our minds. What actions can I take to effect change? I know female athletes personally: what can I do to safeguard them or to advocate for them? 

Similarly, what public actions are we taking as advocates? What about privacy and freedom of speech issues? And, let’s discuss the pros and cons of boycotts or other suggested methods to raise public awareness around the impact of discriminatory policy facing women and girls in sport.

• Dr. Mary O’Connor, OLY
• Local Organizers