The event highlighted the need to place greater trust in women's capabilities, allocate more resources, and achieve broader and better media coverage for women's sports.
Athlete and executive of the Associació Esport Femení Lleida, Xus Muñoz, delivered the inaugural lecture, focusing on female leadership within sports organizations. Drawing from her experiences in challenging races, she emphasized the importance of trusting one's own voice and acting without waiting to feel fully prepared.
Subsequently, managers, coaches, athletes, and former elite athletes shared their personal and professional experiences in a roundtable discussion on fostering networks and opportunities for women athletes and professionals. Carme Cabanillas, president of the Associació Esport Femení Lleida, urged the use of existing role models and expressed the desire to eliminate the term 'women's' from sports leadership. Meritxell Mata, president of Hoquei Club Alpicat, noted progress in sporting equality but stressed the need for advancement at the executive level and the lack of sponsors for women's teams.
Irela Arbonés, a rugby player for Club Esportiu INEF Lleida, encouraged women to set no limits and called for strengthening INEFC Lleida as a training center. Glòria Pallé, former athlete and public administrator, highlighted the importance of education and preparation, requesting more financial resources and better broadcast times for women's sports in public media.
The second part of the day featured Lleida-based entities showcasing success stories in women's leadership, including the Secció Esportiva AEM Lleida, Associació Esportiva Sedis Bàsquet (Cadí La Seu), and CP Vila-Sana Cooperativa d'Ivars. Xavier Baró (AEM Lleida) emphasized grassroots work and values-based training. Pep Ribes (Sedis Bàsquet) highlighted economic responsibility for team stability and social support. Maria Porta (Vila-sana) expressed satisfaction in being role models and noted the scarcity of women coaching top-level women's teams.
The event also recognized achievements with the Premis Pla d’Impuls de l’Esport Femení a Catalunya (Catalan Women's Sports Development Plan Awards), presented to Glòria Pallé and Club Patí Vila-Sana Cooperativa d'Ivars, champions of the OK Liga Iberdrola and Copa de la Reina.
Carme Bastida, director of the Consell Català de l’Esport, advocated for Catalan sports talent and the need to reform leadership structures to incorporate a female perspective. Olga Jiménez, Secretary of Feminism, promoted gender equality in sports, emphasizing its role in transmitting values.
The cycle, part of the Pla d’Impuls de l’Esport Femení a Catalunya, aims to increase women's sports participation and their presence in decision-making roles. The next session will be held in Tarragona on November 10th. Attendees could also visit the exhibition ‘Oracle’ by Lurdes R. Basolí, an homage to the territory's female athletes.
