Spain Launches Major Initiatives to Promote Women in Sports This November
Spain launches the 'Somos Poderosas' program and hosts the IV Congreso Estatal Mujeres y Deporte this November to enhance women's role and equality in sports.
- • The 'Somos Poderosas' program starts on November 19 in Toledo, involving over 400 female athletes.
- • Since 2016, over 809,000 euros have been invested in elite female athletes in Castilla-La Mancha.
- • The IV Congreso Estatal Mujeres y Deporte will take place in Donostia on November 28-29, focusing on sports equality.
- • The congress includes notable speakers and emphasizes changing unfair sports rules to improve inclusivity.
Key details
Spain is intensifying its efforts to promote gender equality in sports with two major events scheduled in November 2025. The 'Somos Poderosas' program will launch on November 19 in Olías del Rey, Toledo, with over 400 athletes participating. This initiative aims to highlight the progress made in women's sports and share inspiring stories of female athletes. Carlos Yuste, General Director of Youth and Sports in Castilla-La Mancha, emphasized the program's focus on encouraging girls and women to view sports as an avenue for personal growth and leadership. The initiative includes dynamic workshops led by acclaimed female athletes like Ana Furia, a notable breaking champion and Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024. Since 2016, more than 809,000 euros have been invested in elite female athletes, with women's clubs receiving a 47.49% increase in funding since 2017–2018. In 2024, women represent nearly half (49.56%) of high-performance athletes.
Shortly after, Donostia will host the IV edition of the Congress Estatal Mujeres y Deporte (CEMYD) on November 28–29. Under the theme "Changing the Rules of the Game," the congress will gather over 30 athletes, journalists, researchers, and experts to debate women's roles in sport and necessary structural reforms. Venues will include the Aquarium of San Sebastián, featuring presentations and round tables addressing topics such as safe environments, school sports, and policy transformation. Deputy for Culture and Sports Goizane Álvarez highlighted the event as "a call to action" to rectify unfair rules that have historically hindered women’s sports participation. Notable attendees include journalists Olga Viza and Paloma del Río, Paralympic medalist Marta Arce, and swimmer Nahia Zudaire.
Together, these initiatives reflect Spain's commitment to fostering gender equality and inclusivity in sports, reinforcing Castilla-La Mancha’s reputation as a European Region of Sport and advancing society through sports equality.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.