Powell promotes gender equity at Pan Am Sports Forum

KINGSTON:

Jamaican sprint legend Asafa Powell brought a powerful Caribbean voice to the conversation on women’s leadership in sport, appearing as a special guest at the Pan Am Sports Women in Sport Forum in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday.

Held as part of Pan Am Sports Week and in the build-up to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, the forum brought together athletes, administrators, advocates and leaders from across 41 countries to discuss gender equity, women’s participation and safeguarding in sport.

Powell featured in the forum’s ‘Same Track ... Different Rules’ session, exploring the differing realities faced by men and women in athletics.

Drawing on his own life and career, Powell spoke about the women who have helped shape him personally and professionally, and the importance of women being heard, supported and given genuine opportunities to lead and excel across every level of sport.

His participation reinforced the role men can play as visible allies in advancing a more inclusive sporting culture, one in which women are not only competing, but coaching, managing, making decisions and helping to shape the future of sport.

The forum formed part of a wider day of programming focused on gender equity and Safe Sport, reflecting Pan Am Sports’ commitment to creating safer, fairer and more representative sporting environments across the region.

Powell, a former 100-metre world record holder and one of Jamaica’s most accomplished athletes, continues to use his platform to contribute to conversations that extend beyond the track and create meaningful impact for future generations.