Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UNESCO organized a roundtable in New Delhi to advance safe and inclusive sports opportunities for adolescent girls in India. Participants included government officials, international sports organizations, civil society groups, and corporate foundations. Discussions referenced the UNESCO–UN Women publication, "Tackling Violence against Women and Girls in Sport: A Handbook for Policy Makers and Sports Practitioners," highlighting key challenges such as a lack of trained coaches, girls' body confidence issues, and inappropriate conduct by male coaches—factors that contribute to girls dropping out of sports.
The roundtable also marked the launch of "Kickstart Her Future," a two-year initiative by UNESCO and Nike to create a safer, more inclusive sports environment for girls aged 11 to 17 in Delhi NCR. The project aims to collect data on girls' participation, develop Safe Body Confident Sport (SBCS) resources, and train coaches to better address gender-based challenges in sports.
Shri Ram Singh, Secretary of the Sports Authority of India, noted that central government funding through the Khelo India program has increased roughly eightfold in recent years, with additional state funding and a greater focus on engaging female coaches through initiatives like the ASMITA leagues. This funding growth underscores the responsibility to ensure safe sports spaces for all girls.
Mogens Kirkeby, President of the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA), emphasized the need for more collaboration among grassroots sports organizations to build collective capacity. He highlighted that sport is one of the most cost-effective tools for personal, social, and health development, and stressed the importance of qualified coaching in transforming traditionally male-oriented sports environments.