Chiclana exhibition honors women sport legends as FIFA's past sexism recalled

From June 15 to 27, 2024 the city of Chiclana in Cádiz province hosted the "Mujeres Leyendas del Deporte" exhibition, showcasing around 70 artefacts that trace the achievements of female athletes from Spain and abroad. Organized by the municipal sports delegation together with the Museum of Sport Association and the Spanish Sports Council, the display features national stars such as Theresa Zabell, Lydia Valentín, Ruth Beitia, Alexia Putellas and local pioneers like Silvia Castillo, Carmen Gómez and Xary Rodríguez, highlighting decades of progress and the obstacles women have overcome in sport.

In a related commentary, former Spanish footballers Carmen Arce (“Kubalita”) and María Ángeles Pérez (“Quilla”) recalled how FIFA historically suppressed women's football, citing bans in the 1920s‑1970s, the 1971 Women's World Cup in Mexico and medical myths used to restrict female participation. Their interview, aired during the build‑up to the 2026 World Cup, emphasized that despite past oppression the quality and popularity of women's football endured and continues to be celebrated.

The exhibition and the interview together underline a broader effort to recognize the legacy of women athletes and confront the sport’s discriminatory past.