Supporting Women in Sports: LSU School of Kinesiology Announces Official Collaboration with Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport, Physical Activity and Physical Education
October 21, 2024
Kinesiology faculty are the first in the US to partner on global research, programs, and advocacy for women in sport.
BATON ROUGE, LA — The LSU School of Kinesiology recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Global Observatory for Gender
Equality and Sport, Physical Activity and Physical Education in Lausanne, Switzerland.
LSU is the first university partner in the United States in a planned network of global
expert institutions with a focus on women and sport. This collaboration aims to enhance
joint research projects, academic seminars, and public programming as well as promote
health awareness and sporting opportunities for girls and women in the global community. 
The Global Observatory is the latest collaboration as part of the school’s LSU Women’s
Sports and Health Initiative. With support from colleagues around the world, the initiative
combines the best research from exercise and sport science, sport management, youth
development, policy and coaching to support sporting opportunities and health for
girls and women across the lifespan. Based at a leading American university for women's
sports, the research, practices, and programs of the LSU Women’s Sports and Health Initiative are impacting performance and health outcomes at LSU, across Louisiana and around
the world.
The Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport (The GO) was established in July
2021 to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in all their diversity
in and through physical education, physical activity, and sport (PEPAS or Sport+).
This initiative originated from UNESCO’s 4th International Conference of Ministers
and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS IV) in Athens,
Greece, in 2003.
“The GO is the global repository of research knowledge on women’s sport and health.
We are honored that LSU has been chosen to be the USA partner of the GO in its endeavor
to improve the wellbeing of girls and women around the world,” said LSU School of
Kinesiology Director and Endowed Professor John Nauright, PhD. “Collaborations are
the heartbeat of innovation and working together with the GO and its global network
of regional university hubs opens the door to shared knowledge and resources, allowing
us to create innovative solutions that benefit our communities in Louisiana and around
the world.”
With over 15 faculty members and 20 graduate students involved, the LSU Women’s Sports
and Health Initiative combines research in exercise science, behavioral and health
analysis, and work on policy and planning to better health, performance and success
for women and girls in sport and physical activity. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there
has been an explosion of interest and investment in women’s elite sports. In 2023,
Deloitte projected women’s sports will generate $1.28 billion in new investment during
2024, a 300% increase from 2020 projections. A new study in June 2024 values the domestic
women’s sport market at over $4 billion (reported in USA Today). Women’s sports media
coverage has increased from 4% to nearly 20% in the same time span.
The initiative will team up with the GO on research projects, dissemination of research
findings to the global community and advocacy to the UN, UNESCO and other global agencies,
including international sporting federations while also providing important research
and information on sport and health for girls and women in the United States. LSU
researchers and students will also have access to GO information which will enable
us to pursue best practice outcomes for women and girls in Louisiana and beyond.
About SOK
The LSU School of Kinesiology (SOK) advances the understanding of physical activity, sport, and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through excellence in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement. SOK offers a BS, MS, Online MS, PhD, and two certificate options. Graduates go on to successful careers in the health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, sport agencies and businesses, athletic administration, and K-12 educational settings. SOK is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.
Visit the School of Kinesiology website.
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan.