Dialogue, Participation, Recognition

Dear Colleagues,
On March 8, I had the privilege to co-host an online event to mark International Women's Day together with a group of dedicated female colleagues. Our special guest was Andrea Temesvári, Grand Slam tennis champion and member of the Billie Jean King Cup Committee. I was naturally part of the conversation myself, which brought together the event co-hosts: five voices from four continents:
Special thanks to Prarthana Hazarika (India), Nargiz M. Eldar (Azerbaijan), Bertille Missi Bikoun (Cameroon) and Valentina Peña Orozco (Colombia).

Together, we showed that distance, cultural differences and generational gaps are not barriers but sources of fresh thinking. We talked about the possibility of growing AIPS membership, international training programmes, accreditation challenges and the expanding role of digital content creation. The invitation was extended to every member of the AIPS Executive Committee.

On that same day, IOC President Kirsty Coventry shared a personal video message celebrating women in sport around the world, and Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to the women in his life through a dedicated photo series.

In contrast, not a single word appeared on any global official AIPS platform. An organisation that speaks of dialogue but steps back when the real dialogue becomes possible will eventually lose the trust of those it represents. That is precisely why I am running for president.

I have also written a longer reflection on this topic on my Facebook page, I encourage you to read it here. A full summary of the event has been published on the AIPS Europe website, which I am happy to share - thanks to Nargiz for the summary.

Eleven Points, One Goal:
A Stronger AIPS

In the coming weeks, I will be laying out my eleven-point presidential programme in full. This is not a collection of pledges, it is a roadmap, with concrete steps and clear intentions behind every line. Each newsletter will focus on one or two points, so that by April 12, my vision for AIPS will be an open book.

I truly believe that the strength of any organisation can be measured by how much every single member, wherever they are in the world, feels they genuinely belong to it. That conviction is the foundation on which this entire programme rests.

Point 1
No Empty Chairs at Our Congress

I It is simply not acceptable that colleagues from less affluent member associations are absent from our World Congress for no reason other than cost. They are not peripheral members. They are full and equal partners in this community. Every conversation we have is poorer without them.

I am committed to ensuring that every national association can send one fully funded delegate to the AIPS World Congress, with travel costs covered. This is not a promise for the future. I have already taken steps to build the right sponsorship network and secure new funding streams while respectfully thanking our present partners for their continued and much needed cooperation.

Our aim is to grow participation year on year, until all 150 member countries have a seat at the table. A congress where half the world is missing is not a world congress. It is long overdue that we put this right.

This is part of my programme. This is what I stand for.

On April 12, I am running for the presidency of AIPS, because I know this organisation is capable of more, and because I have a clear sense of how to get there. The full programme is available at csisztu.com.
I count on your support.

With respect and warm regards,

Dr Zsuzsa Csisztu
AIPS Vice President | AIPS Presidential Candidate