Olympics! Paris! Women! Hurrah!

by Karen and Erica

The Olympics begin this week in Paris, the City of Light. The games will take place in the most amazing sites, and the entire event will be gorgeous.

For the first time ever, the number of female and male athletes is even. Quite a milestone—though why it took so long to get here makes for annoying reading—and apparently some people still question women’s ability to compete. Sometimes those issues are manifested in the uniforms. But the fast-forward trajectory these women athletes are on is exciting!

We are looking forward to many of these athletes. Gymnast Simone Biles s high in the list. So is Sha’Carri Richardson, track and field. Then there’s sixteen-year-old Dominika Banevic in a new Olympic sport—breaking. Another new Olympic sport features Eleanor Aldridge in kite surfing. The swimmers, the basketball team, the soccer team, sport climbing, and so much more will keep us rapt, often with our hearts in our mouths.

There is little doubt that women’s sport is rocketing upward. Not everything is resolved, but women are clearly demonstrating that they are competitive. And people want to watch women compete.

We agree with UNWomen:

The recent progress and achievements in women’s sports are nothing short of extraordinary. As the world stops to celebrate these triumphs, the voices of women in sports must continue to resonate across the planet. Their stories of resilience and determination will inspire future generations of girls to dream big and pursue their passions.  

Keep cheering, keep investing, keep believing in the incredible potential of women in sport. Let’s create a world where every girl knows that the sky’s the limit, both on and off the field.