Special Issue on Gender, Physical Education and Sport: Voices from the 20th IAPESGW World Congress

In November 2025, members of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) gathered in Cebu, Philippines, for the 20th IAPESGW World Congress. Held with the theme, “Equity in Action: A Global Dialogue on the Advancement of Women and Girls in PE and Sport Innovation,” the Congress convened scholars and practitioners from around the world to share research and knowledge aimed at improving the experiences of girls and women through physical education (PE) and sports participation. Through webinars, publications, global events, and a range of collaborations with other global organisations such as UNESCO, the United Nations, Women Sport International and the International Working Group (IWG) on Women in Sport, IAPESGW continues to advance policies, practices, and actions that ensure women and girls have equitable access to PE, sport, and dance. Delegates from the Congress were invited to submit full papers of their oral presentations for publication in this Special Issue on Gender in the International Sports Studies (ISS) journal. Those accepted involved research spanning gender studies, sport pedagogy, sport sociology, sport management, sport physiology and medicine, sport nutrition, and sport technology. Core thematic areas included: active cities; health through physical activity, PE, sport and dance; high performance sport; inclusion in PE and sport, leadership and good governance in sports; Paralympic sports and Parasport; physical activity throughout the lifespan; PE in schools; Sport-for-all; Sport for development and peace; technologies and innovation; and traditional sport, dance, and leisure activities.