Award Ceremony for Women in Sports International Photo Awards - President Tsai: Advocating for Sports Equality
- Gender Equaliy In Sports
- Sports Diplomacy
For the first time globally, the International Photography Contest themed "Women in Sports" held its award ceremony on May 5, 2023, at National Taipei University. President Tsai Ing-wen attended the ceremony, presenting the Grand Jury Prize and the top three winners in the International Division. Austrian female photographer Lisi Niesner claimed the Grand Jury Prize trophy and a $7,000 cash prize, while the International Division champion was awarded to seasoned American photographer Bruce Bennett.
Organized by the Taiwan Sports Forward Association and the "Women in Sports" media platform, the inaugural "Women in Sports" International Photography Contest was held in Taiwan, offering a total prize pool of NT$600,000—a global initiative. The event invited international professionals to form the jury panel. The contest featured International Professional, Domestic, and Campus divisions, with cash prizes awarded to the top three winners in each category. Notably, a special "Grand Jury Prize" was exclusively awarded to female photographers, with a $7,000 cash prize. The contest received over 1,300 submissions from 52 countries worldwide, with a remarkable participation rate of female photographers, a rarity on a global scale.
President Tsai Ing-wen's presentation of the Grand Jury Prize carries significant meaning. Despite winner Lisi Niesner's absence due to work commitments—photographing the coronation of King Charles III in London—she recorded her acceptance speech, and the award was received on her behalf by Vice Chairman Lynne Cameron of the British Press Photographers' Association. Cameron expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing its value in showcasing the talent of female photographers and the beauty of women in sports.
President Tsai Ing-wen also presented trophies to the top three winners in the International Division. Champion Bruce Bennett (USA) received a $5,000 cash prize, followed by Silvia Casali (Italy) in second place and Adam Pretty (Australia) in third. In her address, President Tsai congratulated both domestic and international winners, acknowledging their outstanding portrayal of women's excellence in sports through photography. She affirmed Taiwan's commitment to promoting sports equality and expressed admiration for the photography contest and the concurrent international forum as exemplary platforms for connecting through sports and fostering global friendships.
The five international jury members brought professionalism and credibility to the contest, including Anthony Edgar, Lynne Cameron, 2021 International Olympic Committee Oceania Women and Sport Award recipient Tracey Holmes, former Sports Illustrated Photography Director Steve Fine, and Taiwanese sports representative Chen Yi-an. The Campus Division jury members were You Zhi-sheng, Wang Jia-fei, and Zhong Yi-jie. Jury Chairman Edgar remarked, "This contest is unique and significant, particularly in its affirmation of female photographers." He praised the high quality of the winning entries for successfully capturing outstanding sports moments and styles through photography.
Sophiyah Liu, Executive Director of the Taiwan Sports Forward Association, stated that the Women in Sports International Photo Awards, combining art and sports, received enthusiastic responses from professional and amateur photographers from 52 countries globally. He expressed gratitude for the support of professionals both domestically and internationally. Through this contest, the visibility of women in sports photography and their professionalism has been elevated, bringing the world's attention to Taiwan's strong soft power in promoting sports equality.
