Athlete Ally Announces Participation in the 2nd Global Goals World Cup Finals

New York (September 18, 2017) — Today, Athlete Ally announced it will join a coalition of 10 organizations that are joining together to participate in the Global Goals World Cup finals and bring attention to the global issues facing women in sport. The Global Goals World Cup works to raise awareness and rally communities in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through a series of powerful soccer events. The New York tournament is the global final with players participating from around the world.

Athlete Ally Ambassadors Lori Lindsey and Mary Harvey will represent the organization in the tournament. They join a team led by co-captains Mara Gubuan and Hajar Abulfazl. Gubuan co-founded Shirzanan, a media and advocacy organization. Shirzanan, in a coalition that included Athlete Ally and former ​Shirzanan athlete ambassador Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, was instrumental in the overturn of the hijab ban in international basketball federation (FIBA).

​Hajar Abulfazl is a medical doctor, Afghan women’s national football player, former Shirzanan athlete ambassador and founder of Tawana youth development organization in Kabul. Abulfazl recently won the Beyond Sport Award for Courageous Use of Sport for her efforts to empower girls through football and leadership training.​

The team — known as the Sports Equality Enforcers — is comprised of 14 women representing 10 organizations, is using the Global Goals World Cup as a platform to create awareness and develop support for issues ranging from the stadium ban denying women access to sports venues as spectators to equitable pay and equal access in sport.

The 10 organizations include Athlete Ally, Women’s Sports Foundation, Equal Playing Field, Free to Run, Global Sports Mentoring Program, Wrestle Like a Girl, True Sport, WoBold Sports, The Through Her Eyes Project, and The Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy. We are also supporting the #EndStadiumBan #NoBan4Women campaigns against Iran’s stadium ban.

Lori Lindsey is a former member of the U.S. Women’s National Team. She represented the team during the 2011 Women’s World Cup and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Mary Harvey is a former U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper, who was a member of the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship team, as well as the 1996 Olympic gold medalist team. In addition, Mary was named the 2017 winner of U.S. Soccer’s prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award.

“Athlete Ally is proud to help raise awareness of the challenges facing women and girls around the world in sport,” said Hudson Taylor, executive director of Athlete Ally. Together, with such an impressive roster of advocates and sport figures, we’ll show the world that sport can (and should) be a place of equal access, opportunity and experience.”

Mara Gubuan states: “The Global Goals World Cup provides an environment for “peaceful combat” where activist women and girls can share information and develop relationships leading to collaboration and acceleration to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Sports Equality Enforcers is proud to participate and support women and girls worldwide who are fighting for their rights in sports and in life.”

Contact: Taylor Carr, taylor.carr@athleteally.org