Maud Hodson in DeustoForum Gipuzkoa: "To progress towards parity in sport, it is imperative that there are women in leadership positions in teams and clubs"

A day of reflection and debate regarding equality in the sport of running took place at the San Sebastian campus of the University of Deusto. The event was organised by DeustoForum Gipuzkoa and Fortuna Sports Club Kirol Elkartea, within the collaboration framework between both entities in the B / SS 50/50/25 project.

In front of a large audience of dual-grade students in Primary Education + Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Maud Hodson, a runner and activist for equality in running, delivered the conference: "#runequal, campaigning for women and running", where she analysed the #runequal movement that promotes activism for equality in running, especially in relation to the distance traveled between men and women in cross-country races, which has a long tradition in the United Kingdom.

Patxi León, a professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Education of the University of Deusto and Arantzazu Rojo, responsible for Communication at the Fortuna Kirol Elkartea Sports Club, accompanied Maud during the Conference. In her speech she said that “although athletics is the sport where there is more parity; much still needs to be done”. According to her, a key element in for equality in sport is the education that we provide boys and girls with since childhood: “one must not distinguish between sports for boys and for girls”. She also manifested her hope that within a few years this fight is no longer necessary.

Hodson also said that there has always been a disparity in resources and treatment given to women's sports. Regarding this issue, Arantzazu Rojo added that one of the objectives of the 50/50/25 project of Behobia San Sebastián is that girls have real models to look for (close people, friends) to avoid abandonment in sport due to lack of references. Maud Hodson mentioned in this regard that the abandonment of sport in women also has a lot to do with the fact that they have no chance of having a professional career as athletes and that for this change and progress towards parity in sport to happen, it is imperative that women achieve leadership positions in teams and clubs across the world.