Iberdrola extends its commitment to equality to 800,000 women athletes
Iberdrola has reinforced its commitment to women's equality through sport with the addition of three new national federations to the total of 32 it has been supporting to date, thus reaching a total of 35 and promoting 800,000 women athletes.
The company's commitment to women's sport as a driving force for equality dates back to 2016 and, since then, it has been the first company to make a global commitment to women's participation in this field and its main promoter.
With the incorporation of the golf, paddle tennis and cycling federations, the number of women supported by the company has increased by 200,000, reaching 800,000 sportswomen and 160 women's competitions, although the indirect boost is much greater, given that it also benefits many more women and girls who practice sports at a grassroots level.
Iberdrola supports the National Federations of Athletics, Badminton, Handball, Boxing, Ice Sports, Fencing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Karate, Canoeing, Rugby, Surfing, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Volleyball, Underwater Activities, Bowling, Winter Sports, Weightlifting, Judo, Olympic Wrestling, Mountaineering and Climbing, Swimming, Skating, Ball, Rowing, Squash, Taekwondo, Tennis, Archery, Sailing, Golf, Paddle Tennis and Cycling.
The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, took part in the incorporation ceremony of the three new Federations in an event hosted by Mónica Carrillo, which was attended by around 200 sportswomen representing all 35 Federations.
The event took place in the facilities of the National Golf Centre, which hosted a mini paddle tennis court, a small practice area for golf and another area with bicycles, where sportswomen representing each of the three new disciplines challenged each other to practice their respective sports in a competition in which they were all winners because, as the slogan of the event stated, "with the promotion of women's sport we all win".
These are the sportswomen Ana Peláez, Iberdrola ambassador, ranked 11th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Esmeralda Racionero, member of the national junior cycling team; and María Silvela, world champion and 13-time Spanish paddle tennis champion.
For the company, this momentum is an excellent tool for building equality in our society because it transcends barriers of gender, race or nationality; it helps to break down gender stereotypes that generate discrimination; it promotes well-being and self-esteem; and it creates references for the youngest members of society.
For this reason, Iberdrola has a large team of female ambassadors, elite sportswomen who champion this equality and embody the values of solidarity, effort and teamwork.
Among them, the event was attended by Belén Tomil (athlete), Lydia Valentín (weightlifting), Eva Moral (paratriathlete), Janire González (surfer), Laura Fuertes (boxer), Laura Martínez (judo player), Desiree Vila (triathlete), María Laborda (climber), María Vicente (athlete), Nuria Rodríguez (skater), Ona Carbonell (synchronised swimmer) and Ana Peláez (golfer).
So far, Iberdrola's role as the main promoter of women's sport in Spain has resulted in a 42% increase in the number of women's licences in the Federations it supports.
However, for Iberdrola, the commitment to equality is not limited to elite athletes and federated women. For this reason, and with the aim of recognising and raising the profile of those who promote the empowerment of women through sport from the grassroots level, the company holds the Iberdrola Supera awards every year, with a total of 300,000 euros to be distributed among its 6 categories.
