Ali Aissaoui’s Post

🏆 Here are my key takeaways after watching the ever-enthralling 2024 Olympics   ⚽ Fortitude in the face of adversity: The Canadian Women's soccer team met adversity before stepping onto the pitch for their assigned group-stage games. Yes, I'm talking about the drone scandal that plagued the team, the team's staff and still hangs like a storm cloud over Canada. The players have spoken openly on their reliance of each other, the voices of leadership that emerged, encouraged, and advocated for their values and for their abilities. This fortitude propelled them to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Germany in the penalty kicks. I'm proud of those players! 🚴 Defining Failure: Listening to the reporters as they asked these tremendous athletes questions after the conclusion of their event, I found myself cringing at the inevitable use of the word "failure" in reference to not making it to the podium. Yes, I believe in the merits that come with achieving a place on the podium, but when you hear the stories of sacrifice, and for some, great personal risk in getting to this world's stage, perhaps shifting sentiments away from failure and to accomplishment is more meaningful. Afghan sisters Yulduz Hashimi and Farib Hashimi discovered and excelled at cycling in their early teens. They had to hide their identities as they trained, under the cover of darkness, dodged stones and public outrage, all before the Taliban took control of the country. As I watched these two indefatigable sisters in the women's road race, I was struck by their pure courage. Their goal goes beyond continuing their journeys as women athletes, their goal is to open a path for other Afghan girls. I suspect "failure" isn't in their repertoire. I have historically felt a sense of loss when Olympic games conclude. These, and so many other examples in the 2024 games has been helped me to shift away from loss and towards intention in my own coaching and consulting practices. Heartfelt gratitude for your inspiration athletes! #Olympics #WomenAthletes #leadershipcoaching #gratitude #intentioncoachingandconsulting Sources: https://lnkd.in/gqEnuR-J and https://lnkd.in/gEkzrmqD)

A MOVEMENT, NOT A MOMENT I don't know about you, but I'm already experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the Summer Olympics. I love sports and the business of sports, from everything that happens during the competition and events to all that it takes to make it happen behind the scenes. The Olympics fills my cup differently because it is all the things: elite, excellent, exceptional, historical, iconic, imaginative, innovative, intense, sensational, surprising, etc. Even acknowledging all of that, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics were more than just another global mega-sporting event; they marked a watershed moment in the evolution of women’s sports. History was made once the Paris Games were recognized as the first in which an equal number of women and men participated. This wasn’t just about breaking records or winning medals—it was about redefining the narrative of what women can achieve on the world stage. From breathtaking performances to historic firsts, women athletes across the board shattered expectations and set new standards of excellence. Whether it was the stunning dominance in track and field, the resilience in team sports, or the athleticism and artistry in gymnastics, women proved they are not just participants in the Olympic story—they are paramount. But let’s be clear: this is not a fleeting moment. The triumphs in Paris reflect a broader, unstoppable movement that has been building for years. Increased investment, record-breaking viewership, and a surge in sponsorships underscore the undeniable value and influence of women in sports. Brands are taking notice, and the world is watching. As we celebrate these achievements, it’s important to recognize that the momentum doesn’t stop here. Paris 2024 is a milestone, but it’s just one chapter in a much larger story. After all, this is not just a moment—it’s a movement that will continue to shape the future of sports for generations to come. The future of sports is female! HIGHLIGHTS 💃🏽 World beaters: Women athletes ruled the Olympics 💃🏻 The Paris Games were the first to have an equal number of men and women competing. 💃 If American women were their own nation, they would have won the third most medals, behind only the U.S. and China. To quote Beyonce, "Who Runs the World? GIRLS!" #Olympics #Paris2024Olympics #Paris2024 #WomenInSports #GirlsInSports

YEAR THREE! We're not sure how on earth that came around so quickly but we're officially three years old! Those nervous first days back in 2023 are replaced with a drive and confidence to accelerate with some of our big vision ideas from when we first sat down to draft how we could create something different in the representation of individuals working within women's sport. We've never deviated from our starting position of being a women's sport agency, despite some discussions along the way. We always wanted to create a solid base and proof of concept and not fail by over promising and failing to deliver before we were ready to grow. The women's sport space remains incredibly exciting and 2025 is another huge milestone. A growing football market both in the UK and in domestic leagues globally will culminate in the UEFA Women's Euros in the summer. In the autumn we will have a Women's Rugby World Cup. Will 2025 prove for that sport what 2022 did for football here in the UK? Aside from those major championships we are seeing growth in Tennis, Golf and cricket ... and as we have mentioned before if you give it a footprint audiences will come. We encourage more brands to be bold and enter the space. The rewards are there for all to see. #TimeToBeHeard

Here's my radical proposal for a new Olympics. Brace yourself, it's weird.   Everyone's tying themselves into knots over whether it's right that Imane Khelif was able to defeat Angela Carini in the women's boxing on Thursday.  Khelif has a uterus, was born and raised a women, but is said to have XY chromosomes (unclear if true) and has previously been disqualified from the 2023 championships.    I think there's a different root problem here, which goes to the heart of the way the Olympics is designed: It's built around men's abilities.   Strength, speed.   That's great! We should celebrate those things.   But women's bodies are different and have different strengths. We have superpowers like conceiving and giving birth. We have a lower centre of gravity. We have more body fat.     We can never be the fastest runners, or the strongest boxers.   We can only ever compete with each other - and then we get tied into knots about who's allowed to play with us.   If you close your eyes and try hard enough, you could imagine a completely different Olympics. One with events that are based around women's natural strengths.   These events could be open to men too. A true equal playing field.   You could have events based around - Flexibility - Agility - Balance - Long periods of endurance   You could have events like: Acrobats. Contortion. Hiding. Ice baths. (What else?)   Don't believe this is possible? Here's an example of something NOT in the Olympics that very easily could be: ultradistance running. Women are amazing at ultradistance running, and absolutely compete with men on an equal playing field.   In 2019, British ultra-runner Jasmin Paris won a 268-mile race in 83 hours, 12 minutes, smashing the course record by 12 hours. AND SHE STOPPED TO EXPRESS BREAST MILK along the way!   Just like the workplace needs an overhaul to allow working parents to thrive on an equal footing, the Olympics needs an overhaul to allow women to thrive on an equal footing. What do you think - just crazy enough it might work?   🔃 Repost if you like weird plans for the Olympics, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this (but not usually this weird)

Started out with an idea of what I thought I wanted to write about for this week and ended up doing something totally different. The topic of inequality in the Paralympics speaks to the broader, nonsensical impact of having a narrow view of sport (traditionally able-bodied men). As we strive to bolster diversity in the industry, we have to address where and how we need to improve. I personally learned a lot in writing this newsletter, and hope that it prompts reflection in each of us. Admittedly, this is a topic that I am relatively new to and realize I have so much more to learn to effectively advocate for these athletes and the unique struggles they face. If you’re knowledgeable in this area, I would love to set up some time to chat to dive deeper.

In the last three Olympics the majority of U.S. medals were won by women despite fewer overall medal and participation opportunities. In the 2020 Tokyo games, 58.4% of medals won by U.S. women was their highest-ever percentage. 2024 is the first Olympics with an equal number of male and female participants. And so far, the US medal trend continues. It's taken awhile, but people are finally waking up to the fact that, yes, women's sports are exciting and worthy of coverage and investment on a large scale. It's taken an enormous burden of proof but here's hoping we continue to see a sharp upward trajectory in the growth of women's sports. https://lnkd.in/ehvsU7qy

Gender Diversity taking yet another setback in women sport at the Olympics. 🔙 International Olympic Committee Was Warned About Male Boxers, World Boxing Organization Vice President Says. Speaking to Reduxx, Marshi Smith, the co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, condemned the IOC after reviewing the shocking revelations made by Kovács. “The cover-up and championing of male athletes in women’s Olympic sports is the greatest sports scandal of our lifetime,” Smith said. The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) is a non-partisan network and advocacy group comprised of current and former collegiate and professional women athletes. The boxing match yesterday between Hungarys Anna Luca Hámori and Algerian Imane Khelif was a non elegant fight where Khelif would turn the match into a strange wrestling thing by grabbing Hámoria by her neck and force her down on the floor 4 times. Even that Hámoria was warned by going ahead with her Olympic match against Khelif she bravely fought for her big dream but only by beating a male boxer. It was, in all ways, a disgraceful boxing match. Equal Playing Fields 👭 . Reading about how many years women have fought being able to participate in sport and experiences the latest new time how more and more sports branches including women is great equal improvement. But reading about the first historian setback in the 1930s for not including women the argument then was; women's health 🙈. Another interesting read is that the Olympic committee back then was the last to approve women participating in the Olympics games. So now we are all waiting for the Olympics committee president Thomas Bach to argue for why they allow men competing against women. They can certainly not use, because of women health and security!!!! Historically the representation of women in the Olympic Committee run behind the rate of its target of presence of women. Time for the Olympic committee to change your own game 👊 👊 #Lagertha #DEI #equalplayingfields #womeninsport #womenhealth #womenmensportteams #fairmatch #keepsportfunandbeautiful #ESG #longevity #genderdiversitygoingmad https://lnkd.in/dpkBxWWE

"𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏'𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒅𝒔?" 2024 has been showing us what’s possible. Stadiums are packed, screens are lit up, and #records are falling left and right. 📺 #WNBA Finals: Over a million viewers per game. 🏀 #NCAA Women’s Basketball: 18.9 million viewers, even surpassing men’s viewership! 🇨🇭 Just last Friday, the Swiss Women’s National Team set a new attendance #record, sparking even more excitement for the Women’s Euro 2025 in #Switzerland! 🏅 Paris #Olympics: Equal participation at last. Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, and the unstoppable U.S. women’s gymnastics team captivated millions globally, proving that when given the stage, women’s sports shine. 🌎 Across continents, #womenssports are dominating, and it’s clear: this isn’t an episode; it’s a #movement! Fans are showing up. They want elite talent, fierce competition, and they’re tuning in for it. The message? When we #invest, audiences respond—and the numbers tell the story. It’s time for brands, #media, and investors to catch up with what fans have been saying all along. Every packed stadium, every viewer, every sponsorship fuels this new era. The future of sports is here, and it’s a powerful force. Here’s to pushing boundaries, breaking records, and building a legacy. Let’s keep the #momentum rolling!

In the midst of Paris Olympic Fever, I thought of sharing "Breaking Barriers: The Hyped Meritocracy and the Genuine Meritocracy and Equity in Professional Sports." In the world of professional sports, meritocracy shines brightly, especially as we celebrate the Paris Olympics 2024. Unlike job applications, university admissions, or the criminalization of certain groups, the talent of athletes is witnessed and judged in huge arenas and open fields. Every step they take is closely watched by the public, analyzed through high-speed and rewindable motion pictures, and monitored by highly trained officials safeguarding their professional standing. This transparent and rigorous process ensures that the true measure of an athlete’s capability is recognized and rewarded. In most of the cases, type-casting certain ethnic groups or place affinity is becoming a relic of the past, as minority groups are excelling and dominating in non-traditional sports previously dominated by specific demographics. This shift not only breaks down outdated stereotypes but also promotes equity by providing opportunities for all athletes, regardless of their background. The diversity and talent we see today in professional sports stands as a testament to the power of meritocracy and the importance of equity, inspiring a future where talent and dedication are the only criteria for success. Meritocracy advocates must understand the need for integrity, accountability, and just systems in providing opportunities and delivering fair and just decisions to all. 🚦Note of Caution: I'm ONLY referring to professional athletes and not the entirety of sports, club ownership and leadership, and businesses opportunities built around it.🛑