IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport recap

At the start of July, the IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport touched down in Birmingham. The summit, which sees attendance from figures all across the sporting community, was attended by Volleyball England's Anna Knibbs, who wrote a short piece about her experience at the event.

"The IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport is the leading international event focused on advancing gender equality in sport. Held in Birmingham in 2026, the summit brought together athletes, leaders, researchers and decision-makers from around the world to share insights and drive positive change for women and girls in sport.

"I had the privilege of attending the IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport over two days through the United by 2022 Volunteers Collective, an organisation established to continue the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and connect volunteers with opportunities across the sporting sector.

"The event provided a valuable opportunity to see first-hand the impact volunteers have within sport and the strength of volunteering communities. One of the key standouts throughout the summit was the importance of recognising and celebrating volunteers, and the vital role this plays in retaining and growing a sustainable volunteer workforce.

"It was also inspiring to see so many delegates united by a shared commitment to advancing women’s sport and maintaining the momentum behind the movement for greater opportunities and visibility.

"Volleyball had a strong presence throughout the summit. FIVB President Fabio Azevedo featured as a panellist on the Business of Women’s Sport discussion, where he highlighted the importance of sustained investment and long-term commitment to the growth of women’s sport.

"The sport was further celebrated when former India volleyball captain Abhijit Bhattacharya received the IOC Global Award for Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The award recognised his outstanding work in using volleyball as a vehicle to transform communities and create positive social change.

"You can find out more about the award in this short video here."

We would like to thank Anna for writing about her experience and attending the summit, as well as IWG for their effort to forward gender equality in sports.