She Runs Active Girls' Lead

The First Edition of a worldwide school sport event just for girls PRESS KIT

12 TO 15 MARCH 2019

Organised by the International School Sport Federation and supported by the European Commission PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

CONTENT EDITORIAL 3 - 5 EDITORIALS 12 - 13 She Runs Active Girls’ Lead 6 - 7 She Runs Active Girls’ Lead THE AMBASSADORS ORIGIN AND CONCEPT 14 - 15 She Runs Active Girls’ Lead ALL AROUND THE WORLD Laurent Petrynka 8 - 9 She Runs Active Girls’ Lead President of the ISF THE PROGRAMME 16 - 17 She Runs Active Girls’ Lead 10 - 11 FOCUS ON PARTICIPANT FOCUS THE LYCEENNE MAIF RUN: 18 She Runs Active Girls’ Lead THE FRENCH SCHOOL SPORT EVENT FOR GIRLS THE PARTNERS It is always a great pleasure to be able to announce the launch of a new project, which can help us achieve our vision and goals. With this, the ISF PRESS CONTACTS is proud welcome the landmark project She Runs, Active Girls’ Lead. As the first edition, this event marks the building blocks of a project aiming to contribute towards creating a legacy for youth, in particular for girls. For this reason, it was decided to stage the event in the context of the International Women’s Day. We are proud that the ISF is embarking on this project; reinforcing the importance of health, empowerment and leadership in youth. 2 She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead would not have been possible without the backing 3 and trust of the European Commission through its Erasmus+ Programme. It is a sign of success to see that 500 participants from 35 countries will be participating in various sporting, educational, cultural and entrepreneurial activities. Additionally, it is important to underline that the support of ISF members and the executive committee has been vital, with their acknowledgment and assistance by engaging with us on this project. Furthermore, a huge thanks to the Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire (UNSS) is required. Their cooperation for She Runs has been important in realising this event, particularly with the collaboration of She Runs around their own successful event La Lycéenne MAIF Run. This provides an amazing opportunity to promote diversity and multiculturalism through the participation of international and local French girls on March 13th. A successful event always depends on its location. Having such a playground like Paris for the inaugural edition of She Runs, Active Girls’ Lead is an amazing prospect and will stay in the memories of all of us, particularly of the young participants, for which a lot of them will be visiting for the first time, the city which shall play host to the 2024 Olympic Games. Last but not least, this project wouldn’t have been developed to such a level without the support of our partner, VinylPlus who have brought with them an increased level of importance to the environmental awareness for She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead in 2019. I look forward to seeing all of you in Paris to welcome the participating girls to the She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead project. PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

EDITORIALS

Tibor NAVRACSICS Nathalie Costantini European Commissioner for Education National Director of the UNSS Culture, Youth, and Sport © Etienne Ansotte © Etienne © DR

The International School Sport Federation (ISF) is an active partner of The Paris leg of the 3rd annual Lycéenne MAIF RUN will take place on the European Week of Sport, our flagship event seeking to inspire people 13 March 2019. The village will be located at the Paris City Hall esplanade, and to #BeActive. Young people are an important target group here, and the the race will take place along the banks of the River Seine. This fun, festive ISF helps us reach out to them by promoting physical activity at school. This and community-oriented event will help promote physical activity among is crucial in encouraging young people to develop an interest in various girls, highlighting its benefits so as to encourage better health and hygiene disciplines and in making physical activity a part of their daily lives. The ISF habits as well as boosting community engagement. Competition is not the 4 therefore helps to build a healthy, cohesive society in the long term. focus; the idea is to “cross the finish line together”. Last year, this event was 5 really popular with our sport federation members as well as non-members The European Commission supports the “SHE RUNS” project because it from schools. translates into practice some of our key political priorities: promoting physical activity and sport for all, in particular for girls and women, the This event is also symbolically associated with International Women’s Day. international dimension of sport and with it, values such as mutual under- During the week, a number of other events will be organised around that standing and open-mindedness. In addition, the project also provides the fun celebration, and it is important that the UNSS participate. This event is an element of a great day out. example of a fun and innovative method the UNSS developed for female high school students, our main target group here. The European Union’s sport policy is evolving. To better support our cooperation at European level, the Commission has proposed to double the amount of The Lycéenne MAIF RUN is also taking place in seven cities across France on money set aside for sport in the future for the Erasmus+ programme from Wednesday 6 March 2019, with 8,000 girls participating. 2021 to 2027. The Lycéenne MAIF RUN in Paris on 13 March will have an international I am pleased to see the interest our partners have in the “SHE RUNS” project. flavour this year. In partnership with the ISF, 500 young “She Runs” athletes I am convinced that it will help us engage more girls and women in sport; will join the French UNSS runners on the starting line. being one of our main priorities and a topic where we still have progress Our partners and the young people involved in our ‘responsible genera- to make. tion’ programme will work hard to offer the 2,000 expected participants a wonderful space in which to come together and share their experiences. PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

SHE RUNS Active Girls’ Lead ORIGIN AND CONCEPT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SPORT FEDERATION (ISF)

PRESENTATION MISSIONS The International School Sport Federation (ISF) is an international non-profit sport organisation that Across the organisation of its events the ISF aims to promote among young people: mutual under- setsup grassroots sport activities, events and competitions for young people aged between 13 to standing, volunteering empowerment, peace, non-discrimination, healthy lifestyle, social inclusion, and 18 years old. The ISF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and promotes genderequality. Thus it contributes to support the educative paths of the young people to empower the values and interestsof education through sport. It is the umbrella organisation for more than them ascitizens of the world. ISF pursues its goals independently from political, religious or racial 120 national school sport entities around the world. considerations.

She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead is the first international school event to promote girls’ health, emancipation, and leadership through school sport. The programme was developed by the International School Sport Federation (ISF) with the support of the European Commission (Erasmus + Sport Programme). The event on 13 March 2019 is a collaboration with the Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire (UNSS), which has been organising the Lyceenne MAIF RUN since 2017. 6 7 The She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead project will take place over 4 days, involving 500 girls aged 15 to 18 from 35 countries who will establish an international base camp of female leadership in Paris. From 12 to 15 March, She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead will shine the spotlight on sport, education, culture, and entrepre- neurship for girls. In the heart of the French capital, the event is bringing together girls from all over the world around sport, but not only sport. To reach gender equality, it is critical to lay the foundation for girls as early as possible. The International School Sport Federation-ISF believes that schools provide a healthy and inspiring environment in which young people can develop their personalities and their dreams. The ISF uses sport as a tool of emancipation to help young people grow and open up to the world. Even as women’s sports are attracting increased attention and resources, 33% of girls and young women stop practising sport between the ages of 15 and 24, compared to just 15% of boys. In order to reverse this trend, the ISF offers girls the opportunity to be active as well discover the world, other cultures, and other lifestyles. Through international events such as She Runs, girls can develop aptitudes and skills that will be useful throughout their lives. Participants also learn about the impact sport has on health, along with the other benefits of regular physical activity. It is because 80% of young people only engage in physical activity at school that this is the best time for girls to take part in sport, as well as social projects, talks, cultural visits, etc. The ISF created She Runs to help develop female leadership in society, media, and the business world. The main objective of the event is to promote the importance of sport for women, along with their right to do so, which is not a given in every country. We support the emancipation of women through sport from the earliest age. Everything starts in school. © Krisztics Barbara © Krisztics Even sport.

* Mapping of School Sport in Europe, Sport and Citizenship and the ISF PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

SHE RUNS Active Girls’ Lead September « The European Conference » During the European Week of Sport in September held in Brussels, the ISF will present THE PROGRAMME European experts and international sport institutions with the results of the projects completed by the young female athletes.

12 13 14 15 March March March March © Getty Images Dibon / Icon Sport © Anthony © Istock © Istock 8 Suzanne Lenglen 9 Learning from the Past Running to Come Together Inspiring Girls Spreading the Message Around the World Marie Curie, Simone De Beauvoir, and Louise Michel all The 500 international participants of She Runs – Active The next part of this unique experience will take place The last event in She Runs-Active Girls’ Lead will be a trip worked to advance the status of women, and all have a Girls’ Lead will take their place alongside the 1500 girl at the Palais Brongniart with a “Talk” on the connection to Station F, the largest start-up campus in the world, connection to the French capital. The first day of She Runs students of la Lycéenne MAIF RUN for a festive run of between sport and the development of female leader- created by Xavier Niel. In this incubator, 40 girls from She is focusing on culture during an enlightening treasure 3 km on the quay of the Seine River in the center of Paris. ship. Women known for their advocacy will describe their Runs-Active Girls’ Lead project (selected by the ISF several hunt in Paris. backgrounds, ideas, and projects. months prior) will learn innovative methods to design and PROGRAM carry out projects to address physical inactivity. On the programme: a search for and visits of unusual and iconic sites around the city (Notre-Dame, the Eiffel 11 AM...... The village opens to the SHE RUNS - Tower, the Champs Elysées, Roland Garros, etc.) through Active Girls’ Lead international students. sport and the women who have marked history. 12 PM...... The village opens to the French students. 1 PM...... Start of the 1st race. 4 PM...... Awards ceremony. 4:30 PM...... Showcases. 5 PM ...... End of the event.

Five years before the Olympic Games, Throughout the day, the UNSS and the ISF Journalist/presenter With the support of Design Sprint experts, the girls will have the opportunity to admire will offer these female athletes (whether Sandy Heribert will facilitate the girls will each develop a simple and the Paris sites that will host the 2024 members of sports federations or not) the conversation between tangible project to promote physical activity competitions and follow in the footsteps of the opportunity to race or share in sporting _ Laurence Fischer, for girls/women in their local communities great women (Simone Weil, Suzan Lenglen moments with famous sport ambassadors _ Valentina Marchei, (in schools, sport organisations, etc.). etc.). such as Camille Lacourt, Marta Pagnini, _ Birgitta Kirvinen. Once they return home, they will need to and Estelle Mossely. implement the project between April and September 2019. 3, 2, 1… go! PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

FOCUS ON THE LYCEENNE MAIF RUN: THE FRENCH SCHOOL SPORT EVENT FOR GIRLS The “Lycéenne MAIF Run” experience makes sport accessible to all girls!

International Women’s Day takes place on March 8 every year. In 2017, to coincide with this celebration, the UNSS (French School Sport Federation member of ISF) created a race exclusively for girls called the Lycéenne MAIF RUN. Girls aged 14 to 18 organise, manage, and race in the Lycéenne MAIF RUN. Its main goal is to raise awareness about the positive impacts of sport on health. In 2019, this unique event in France will feature two major components with full programmes: rowing, boxing, fitness, and cycling activities; radio, boxing, 10 and judo workshops; a sport and health booth; and many other activities to try 11 out in each participating city. The opening ceremony will take place with great fanfare on March 6 in Caen, Besançon, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, and Strasbourg. To support these girls, athletes, celebrities, and singers such as Maeva Danois, Mélina Robert-Michon, Allan Saint-Maximin, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, Anthony Colette, Delphine Wespiser, Cauet, Manon Bresch, Katrina Patchett, Christophe Licata, Ridsa, Lisandro, Boostee, Souf, Priscilla Betti, and many others will share in this unique moment. The highlight of the Lycéenne MAIF RUN occurs on 13 March, when 1,500 athletes from the UNSS and 500 international athletes from SHE RUNS - Active Girls’ Lead (International School Sport Federation) will come together to race in the capital alongside Estelle Yoka-Mossely, Camille Lacourt, Maxime Dereymez. The race begins on the Paris City Hall esplanade! The Lycéenne MAIF RUN concept will also be replicated in Point-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe on 13 March, then on 10 April in Ajaccio, and culminating in Mayotte on 30 May for a total of 10 participating cities! In 2019 - 10 cities, more than 16,000 girls expected. _ Paris _ Caen _ Strasbourg _ Besançon _ Bordeaux _ Lyon _ Nice _ Mayotte _ Point-à-Pitre _ Mayotte _ Ajaccio. © Anthony Dibon / Icon Sport © Anthony PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

SHE RUNS THE AMBASSADORS

Laurence Fischer Valentina Marchei A three-time world karate champion, she Olympic figure skating champion and per- created the non-profit organisation Fight former at the Holiday on Ice show. For Dignity, after working with Dr Denis Mukwege, a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Today she gives karate lessons to girls who were mutilated during war. Birgitta Kervinen As the winner of the highest distinction in Kirsty Coventry international sport, the IOC Women and Sport World Trophy Award, Brigitta Kervinen A two-time Olympic gold medallist in Athens is a leading force behind gender equality in and Beijing, Minister of Sport in Zimbabwe sport. and Member of the International Olympic Committee. Lisa Zimouche 13 A famous French freestyle footballer, who Marta Pagnini goes up against the world’s best players without losing her cool. Watch out for the 2012 Olympics bronze medal winner for Italy nutmeg! in the group all-around gymnastics event.

Natasha Hashtings Nadine Kessler American athlete specializes in 400m was revealed in 2003 by winning the gold med- “Kessi” is a retired international German al at the World Youth Championships. In footballer who played as an attacking addition to this award, there are numerous midfielder. A symbol of sporting success, World Champion titles in 400 meters and she marked her first U-20 World Cup goal in 4 x 400 meters that take her to the Olympic 2006, won the women’s Champions League Games. in 2014 and was voted FIFA Player of the Year! Today Nadine Kessler is the Head of the UEFA Women Department.

Sebastian Coe As a former British athlete, he has also been a double Olympic champion in 1500 m and currently occupies the position of Pres- ident of the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). © DR © FFU

Valentina Marchei Nadine Kessler PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

SHE RUNS ALL AROUND THE WORLD 500 participants from 35 different countries.

- Argentina - Latvia - Australia - Lebanon - Austria - Lithuania - Bulgaria - Macedonia - Croatia - Malta - Cyprus - Netherlands - Denmark - Pakistan - England - Poland - Estonia - Romania - Finland - Russia - France - Senegal - Greece - Slovakia - Hungary - Slovenia - Iceland - Spain - Ireland - Switzerland - Italy - Turkey - Jamaica - Ukraine - Kenya PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

SHE RUNS PARTICIPANT FOCUS © DR

Hanna Krajewska “An athlete is someone with no limits”

”I used to swim a lot, but then I really fell in love with track and field. After I won my first race, a coach invited me to train at a local club. My coach and I noticed that I felt best on long and medium distances. I even won 4th place in the Women’s European Championship in the 5k, and got 2nd place in the European Cup. I also won four medals in the Polish championships, including gold in the Junior category. It’s a start, but my dream is to join the national team and train for the 2021 World Games in the United States. I believe that an athlete is someone with no limits, a person for whom the impossible is possible!” © DR

16 Anna Maria 17 “I want to take action and help change things!”

“I love sport in general, such as skiing and golf. But my favourite is football! My goal is to become a professional footballer and play all over the world. With Stjarnan, my first football club, we became the champions in our category in 2013. A year later, I was named best player. When I was 15 I won the Pepsi League, the main league in Iceland. I’ve also played three times with the U-17 © DR national team as captain. I’m also really interested in gender equality in football and many other sports. I’d like to use the Design Austė Skaisgirytė Sprint methods to develop a programme for girls in my city, Garðabær. Even in a developed country, I’ve witnessed inequality between men and women in sport. So I’d like to encourage women to play, no matter the sport. I’ve always wondered, why do boys play on the main fields? Why do they have bigger trophies? “When I learned the history of my country, I under- And why are they better paid when they become professional? I don’t want to wait around for things to get better, I want to take action and help change things!” stood that we all have to fight for our rights”

“You probably know of Lithuania as one of the Baltic countries. It’s a little country with a great history. We fought for independence for a long time. When I learned the history of my country, I understood that we all have to fight for our rights. I’ve always been very active, both at school and in regular life. I love sports such as football, volleyball, swimming, and ski, but my favourite is orienteering. I’ve been practising this discipline for seven years now, and I would love to do it for the rest of my life! We are constantly confronted with new challenges; it’s never boring. I’ve even represented my country in international competitions. When I’m not competing, I volunteer for several sporting events such as “Pink Run with Benu,” a race to support women with breast cancer, and other races such as the “Kaunas marathon” and the “Vilnius marathon”. I believe that we all have the right to live a wonderful life, to be free to do whatever we want, including sport. I have never experienced discrimination personally, but I hate knowing what some girls have to go through just to do what they want. I want to know what we can do to fight this.” PRESS KIT SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD

SHE RUNS THE PARTNERS

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport for the 2014-2020 period. In accordance with one of the new components of the Lisbon treaty, Erasmus+ also supports activities that develop European connections in sport by promoting cooperation between sport federations. The programme promotes the creation and development of European networks by offering opportunities for cooperation between stakeholders, and the exchange and transfer of knowl- edge and know-how in different fields relating to physical activity. The goal of this strengthened cooperation is to have a positive impact on human capital in Europe and help reduce socio- 18 economic costs relating to physical inactivity. For the 2014-2020 period, 238 million euros have been set aside for projects in the SPORT programme. A budget of 48.6 million euros has been allocated for sport in 2019.

VinylPlus® is the Voluntary Commitment to sustainable development of the European PVC industry. The VinylPlus programme was developed through open dialogue with stakeholders, including industry, NGOs, regulators, civil society representatives and PVC users. The regional @VinylPlus_EU scope of the 10-year programme is the EU-28 plus Norway and Switzerland. VinylPlus is registered as a partnership on the UN Partnerships for SDGs Platform.

Agence RevolutionR Kévin Paris +33 6 72 07 11 59 [email protected]

International School Sport Federation Romain FERMON + 32 4 72 58 31 97 [email protected]

She Runs / la Lycéenne Aurélie BRESSON +33 6 59 54 99 17 [email protected]

SHE RUNS ACTIVE GIRLS’ LEAD www.sheruns.eu www.isfsports.org Conception : www.2c1.fr : www.2c1.fr Conception