Developing Sport and Physical Education Globally

Lynn Vendien Award for Gudrun Doll-Tepper
01/10/2021 14:04

Gudrun Doll-Tepper, Vice President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and ICSSPE Honorary President, was awarded the 2021 Lynn Vendien International Leadership Award presented by the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW).

 

Lynn Vendien was a professor at Amherst University, Massachusetts (USA). In her work, she focussed on girls’ participation in physical education and leisure time activities since the 1950s. One of her publications, which was a must-read for a long time, is entitled Physical Education Teacher: Education Guidelines for Sport Pedagogy.

 

In her laudatory speech the newly elected IAPESGW President Rosa Diketmüller emphasised Gudrun Doll-Tepper’s outstanding leadership and unique capacity for networking across sectors and disciplines, on local, national and global level. „She is a real team player“, Rosa Diketmüller said and referred to the Festschrift for Gudrun Doll-Tepper, entitled Passionately Inclusive: Towards Participation and Friendship in Sport, which was published in 2017. The publication provides proof of Gudrun Doll-Tepper‘s manifold skills, her passion and activities. In her long-standing career in sport, sport science and physical education, Gudrun Doll-Tepper has taken up various positions and contributed to equity and equality agendas through research, education and advocacy. Rosa Diketmüller: „Gudrun Doll-Tepper is the one to convince authorities all over the world to implement strategies needed to bring sport and societies forward.”

 

In her words of thanks Gudrun Doll-Tepper expressed her gratefulness and reminded conference participants of her first encounter with IAPESGW as a student in the late 1960s when Liselott Diem was presiding the organisation. In closing her speech she said: We have accomplished a lot, but I encourage you all to continue your work and your efforts towards ensuring equity and equality in physical education and sport in all parts of the world.

 

Dorothy Ainsworth, former Director of Physical Education at Smith College, USA, initiated the foundation of IAPESGW in 1949. The organisation works towards improved opportunities for girls and women to participate in sport, physical education and physical activity, and joined ICSSPE in 1984. Since 1997, the Lynn Vendien International Leadership Award is presented every four years to personalities who have demonstrated a leadership role in improving the quality of life of girls and women. Gudrun Doll-Tepper received the award during the Closing Ceremony of the 19th Quadriennial IAPESGW World Congress, which took place from 8th until 10th September 2021.