International Women’s Day in ELPA 2025, Equality & Equity in Sport. Myth or Reality?
ELPA is pleased to host the voice of Yiannoula Koulla, patient advocate, President of the Cyprus Liver Patients Association, Board member of the Cyprus Archery Federation, and Leader of the ELPA Working Group of SLD. She is also a member of the National Committee for Transplants, the National Cancer Committee, and the National Committee on TB, HIV, and viral hepatitis. She got her diploma in Biochemistry and, a few years later, a diploma in Public Relations. She worked for many years as a product specialist in charge of central nervous system products (CNS) for a pharmaceutical company. Her involvement with patients began when she became a patient and has been working for patients’ rights ever since.
Overcoming Challenges. As a liver patient advocate and an athlete, how have you balanced your health journey with competitive sports, and what has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in this space?
My involvement in sports began as a therapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. My treatments affected my liver, and my doctor recommended that I do a sport that was not too tricky for my health—swimming, archery. I chose archery, and it was what we call ‘love at first time’. I managed to win victories in sports and my health, and I managed to be a member of the national archery team of my country, Cyprus. I defeated cancer, and I am a cancer survivor. I believe that all people should have equal rights and receive equal opportunities and that these opportunities should not be judged based on their gender or physical condition.
My biggest challenges as a woman athlete and a patient were competing not with myself or other athletes but with the lack of equality and equity in sports, which are two necessary characteristics.
Equality and equity of access ensure that people from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their race, gender, or visible or not visible disabilities (as patients), have the opportunity to engage in sports equally.
If we want to talk about equal rights and opportunities, we should discuss measures/actions that could help women—women who are mothers, women who cannot train regularly because they are patients, women who are not financially independent or are afraid of losing their jobs!
Physical activity is essential for maintaining good health and well-being. Equality of access to sports encourages a broader range of individuals to engage in regular physical activity, promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing the risk of various health issues.
Breaking Barriers. Women in sports often face unique challenges. Have you encountered any gender-based obstacles in archery, and how have you worked to overcome them?
Indeed, women in sports often face many challenges. One of the biggest challenges is that women athletes lack equal opportunities and rights in sports! It is a myth that there are equal opportunities in sports! I will explain why
I got married, and then the children came. I have two children; I had to be absent from training and from the field for a long time. Athleticism is different. It’s not like with work that after a few months, you come back to work. No, this is not the case! It took a lot of effort, a lot of training, and great discipline to get back into sports, let alone to claim a place among the National Dream Team of Archery.
Advocacy & Sports. How has your experience as a liver patient influenced your perspective on the importance of sports for women’s health and well-being?
I would say that doing sports gave me many happy moments and many advantages for the rest of my life, but doing sports and physical exercise gave me a better quality of life as a patient. It is well-known how sports and physical exercises affect your body and your general well-being.
Physical activity is essential for maintaining good health and well-being, especially for patients with fatty liver. Equality of access to sports encourages a broader range of individuals to engage in regular physical activity, promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing the risk of various health issues.
Inspiring Others. What message would you give young girls or women facing health struggles but still dreaming of pursuing sports?
I will repeat the words of a great Civil rights activist, Mr. Jesse Jackson :
‘Pursuit of your dreams, those big or small goals you may have, you must be unrelenting in making consistent movement forward! Never give up your dreams, and never surrender to any adversity. You’re allowed to scream, you’re allowed to cry, but do not give up! Rise up against the odds’
The Future of Women in Sports. What changes would you like to see in the world of sports to make it more inclusive and supportive of female athletes, especially those with health conditions?
That’s quite a tricky question! I think of Martin Luther King’s phrase, ‘I have a dream,…’
Sport is one of the most powerful platforms for promoting gender equality and empowering women. Closing the gender gap in sports and increasing the number of women in sports administration, coaching, and management is a top priority for the Olympic Movement.
Equality and Equity are key principles that have helped bring these values to the forefront. Additionally, the introduction of different policies and events, such as the Paralympics, is helping to promote a more equal playing field in sports. However, there is still much more work to be done.
My message for International Women’s Day: Everyone should be able to participate in and enjoy sports regardless of gender, age, race or physical disability/ability.