Football club AS ROMA helps Accelerate Action by supporting women's health and sharing great insight
Since 1927, Football club AS ROMA has embodied the hopes and dreams of the people of Rome, and gender equality is key.
Italian Football Club AS ROMA supported IWD's Accelerate Action campaign theme via an engaging video posted on its social media channels, amplifying the thoughts, voices, and experiences of AS ROMA's women and men working to advance gender equality in sport.
Taking more steps forward
The video featured three inspiring women who contribute to the success of AS Roma: Betty Bavagnoli, the first female coach in AS ROMA's history and current head of Roma's women's division, and a former winger, full back, lateral midfielder, and sweeper herself; and two brilliant AS ROMA players, the fabulous Midfielder Marta Pandini, and the impressive Attacker Emilie Haavi.
Betty, Marta, and Emilie discussed their views on the progress of gender equality, and shared some of their personal experiences as career women.
"We've taken many steps forward, but we need to take more. We always say that we've done a lot, and we have, but there's a lot more to do, and we can't keep waiting. There needs to be more listening. You just have to stop and listen," explained Elizabeth.
"In Norway, when you have children, it's not necessarily the woman who stays at home and the man who goes to work. It doesn't make you less of a woman if you go to work or less of a man if you stay at home," commented Emilie [pictured below].
"I think first of all, the portrayal of women has changed. A career woman should not be seen as something exceptional. It has to become normal, on the same level," said Marta [pictured below]. "Today we're celebrating International Women's Day, and we all hope that one day we won't have to talk about this anymore, because it would mean that we've achieved equality."
Meet further players and staff for AS Roma's highly impressive women's team.
Rethinking certain beliefs is key
The inspiring video also featured supportive male allies: Former footballer Federico Balzaretti, and Midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi.
Federico and Tommaso discussed their personal responsibilities as men to Accelerate Action, encouraging further men to actively listen, learn, and grow.
"Don't take for granted basic things which are quite normal for us. Going out of the house is probably a bit easier for us in terms of safety, as things stand. We often give advice when it should be the other way round: 'I'll tell you what to do and how to do it,' but that's not how the world works anymore. Everything happens at supersonic speed now, but you can stop and rethink your beliefs," explained Federico.
"We know what the positive steps are, and should take them as soon as possible. Sometimes, you only have to think about something that never occurred to you before. Sometimes you make mistakes. There are things we can avoid doing, and that's what it takes," added Tommaso.
IWD saw AS ROMA activate health facilities for women
Supporting IWD, AS ROMA collaborated with Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital (La Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico) to help Accelerate Action for women's health.
On IWD, AS ROMA and Bio-Medico Campus University Hospital impressively activated a network of health facilities across Rome, offering women a series of free screenings for gynecological, breast, thyroid, osteoporosis, and colorectal prevention.
Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation is a not-for-profit institution. It pursues the aim of protecting and promoting the human person in the field of healthcare, training, scientific, research and innovation in the biomedical and health fields, both clinical and translational. Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital, managed by the Foundation, works in synergy with Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, a private university with full legal status established in 1993 to implement a cultural project focused on bringing the individual back to the center of biomedical sciences.
Thank you AS ROMA and Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital for everything you do to tenaciously help Accelerate Action for gender equality.