Türkiye Rowing Federation Strengthens Commitment

Türkiye Rowing Federation Strengthens Commitment to Gender Equality with IWG Women and Sport Signing 

The global movement for gender equality in sport continues to grow, as the Türkiye Rowing Federation officially joined the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport by signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration during the 2025 European Rowing Coastal & Beach Sprint Championships in Antalya. 

Hosted by the Türkiye Rowing Federation and held under the auspices of European Rowing, the Championships took place at Çamiçi Public Beach in Manavgat, Antalya, from 9–12 October 2025. The event opened with a spectacular ceremony at the historic Side Antique Museum, setting the tone for a championship that celebrated not only athletic excellence but also social and environmental responsibility. 

Under the leadership of Organizing Committee Chair Ms. Ferdiye Erdoğan, the event was recognised as a model for inclusion and sustainability, embedding equality and accessibility throughout its planning and delivery. 

The official signing of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration on Women and Sport took place during the Championships between the Chair of the Federation’s Gender Equality Commission Ms. Ferdiye Erdoğan and the Chair of the IWG Women and Sport and European Rowing President Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, witnessed by the Governor of Antalya, Hulusi Şahin, and Türkiye Rowing Federation President, Erhan Ertürk. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Erdoğan said: 

“By signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, we reaffirm our belief that sport must be a space where everyone—women and men alike—has equal opportunity to participate, lead, and excel. This commitment will guide our work as we continue to strengthen gender equality and inclusion across all levels of rowing in Türkiye.” 

Annamarie Phelps, President of European Rowing and Chair of the IWG Women and Sport, added: 

“We are delighted to welcome the Türkiye Rowing Federation as a signatory to the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. Their leadership in embedding equality and sustainability into such a high-profile international event sets an inspiring example for the rowing community and the wider sporting world.” 

This latest signing highlights the growing impact of the IWG’s global network and reinforces the shared ambition to ensure that sport and physical activity are platforms where all women and girls can thrive.