Global Alliance for Female Athletes doubles membership to nine nations

The Global Alliance for Female Athletes (GAFA) has doubled its membership base with the addition of Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland, the Australian Sports Commission announced on Friday.

The expansion marks a significant milestone for the initiative, which originally comprised four founding members. The inclusion of the five new nations reflects broadening international recognition of the need to address systemic challenges facing female athletes across different regions and sporting disciplines.

GAFA was established to create a coordinated platform for member nations to share best practices, develop policies and implement programmes aimed at advancing gender equity in sports. The alliance addresses issues ranging from equal pay and media coverage to health support systems and career development opportunities for women athletes.

The addition of Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland brings diverse geographic representation and expertise to the alliance. Each nation brings distinct perspectives shaped by their own sporting cultures and regulatory frameworks, potentially strengthening collaborative efforts to tackle common challenges in women's sports.

The expansion is expected to enhance the alliance's capacity to influence global sporting organisations and drive meaningful change in how female athletes are supported and resourced across member nations.