GENDER EQUALITY IN ITALIAN SPORT

Although there are some signs of progress being made, generally speaking, gender equality in sport in Italy may be characterised as “a work in progress”.

The number of women participating in sport is increasing, with around 48% of sportspersons being women. In some sports, however, women are underrepresented.

For example, in association football, only 2.5% of women play the game, compared with 12.5% of men. However, Italy is moving towards a gender equality principle in women’s football.

Likewise, women are underrepresented in positions of leadership in sport, such as coaches, managers, team doctors and senior roles in Italian Sports Federations. In fact, only 22% of the top positions in the Italian Sports Federations, which represent the ten most popular sports in Europe, are filled by women.

For the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which will take place in 2026 in Milan and Cortino, there will be a more gender-balanced participation, with the aim of 47% of the athletes being women.

Other challenges that women face in Italian sport include inadequate training conditions and insufficient media coverage of women’s sports.

There also appears to be a widely held stereotypical view in Italy that women are less athletic than men.

Gender equality leaves a lot to be desired in sport in Italy, and, indeed, in society in general, where, for example, only 32.3% of the seats in the Italian Parliament are held by women.

As will be appreciated from the above remarks, a lot more work needs to be done to bridge the gender gap in Italian sport and eliminate out of date perceptions and all kinds of discrimination, in conformity with the Fundamental Principles of Olympism as enshrined in the Olympic Charter.

For further information and advice on this evolving and important matter, please email Sara Botti, the Head of our Italian Law Practice, at ‘botti@valloni.ch’.