On March 8, the International Women’s Rights Day gathered people of all ages around the question of women’s place in 2019. In Nice, this day, dedicated to Camille Muffat, revolved around the theme: “Women & Sport.”
Flash mob, sports demonstrations, exhibitions, conferences… Numerous activities were organized to rally for this day specifically dedicated to women. It was on the Promenade du Paillon that Maty Diouf, Deputy Mayor of the city of Nice, along with the guest of honor Gérard Holtz, a renowned sports journalist, kicked off the International Women’s Rights Day.
Various women’s associations and several sports clubs provided young and old alike the opportunity to try out a sport. Fencing, kung fu, mixed teqball, soccer, and many others. Among the athletes present today, numerous champions answered the call to share their sport and contribute to the empowerment of women’s sports.
Gérard Holtz, guest of honor
At the Mediterranean University Center, the famous sports journalist gave a lecture entitled “The Female Athlete in Belle Époque Nice: A Major Figure.” Gérard Holtz is among the most invested supporters in the fight for gender equality in sports, to which he dedicates a book titled “The 100 Legendary Stories of Women’s Sports.” “A kind of anger arose last year from constantly hearing my colleagues denigrate women’s sports. We must highlight women’s sports and talk about these champions. This is just the beginning, let’s continue the fight,” Gérard Holtz declared during his speech on the need for recognition of women in sports.
Topics such as the origins of women’s sports, the current differences between male and female athletes, and the promotion of the 2019 Women’s World Cup were discussed. These subjects were punctuated by poignant testimonies from iconic local female figures such as Odile Diagana, a former international athlete and heptathlon champion, or Jannela Blonbou, a player for OGC Nice Handball, a member of the French team, and a gold medalist at the World and European Championships, to name just a few.
Gender equality is making significant strides but remains a perpetual struggle within communities, clubs, the professional world, and families. This is the message of the European Charter for Equality between Women and Men in Local Life.
Olivia Baali
