[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] three months ago I convinced a bunch of
three months ago I convinced a bunch of
three months ago I convinced a bunch of 60 women to make history now this story
60 women to make history now this story
60 women to make history now this story started as all great adventures do
started as all great adventures do
started as all great adventures do whilst I was sat on the sofa complaining
whilst I was sat on the sofa complaining
whilst I was sat on the sofa complaining at the TV I was so angry that I saw more
at the TV I was so angry that I saw more
at the TV I was so angry that I saw more stories about horses than women in the
stories about horses than women in the
stories about horses than women in the sports pages I was frustrated that elite
sports pages I was frustrated that elite
sports pages I was frustrated that elite women don’t get a fair wage to play the
women don’t get a fair wage to play the
women don’t get a fair wage to play the sports they love if they’re paid at all
sports they love if they’re paid at all
sports they love if they’re paid at all and I was annoyed there are far fewer
and I was annoyed there are far fewer
and I was annoyed there are far fewer opportunities for girls and women to
opportunities for girls and women to
opportunities for girls and women to play sport and fewer role models to look
play sport and fewer role models to look
play sport and fewer role models to look up to soccer has this incredible power
up to soccer has this incredible power
up to soccer has this incredible power to unite people but for me the beautiful
to unite people but for me the beautiful
to unite people but for me the beautiful game had turned quite ugly the sport I
game had turned quite ugly the sport I
game had turned quite ugly the sport I loved had been reduced to soccer
loved had been reduced to soccer
loved had been reduced to soccer brackets women always an afterthought
brackets women always an afterthought
brackets women always an afterthought kicked off the pitch because the boys
kicked off the pitch because the boys
kicked off the pitch because the boys needed to Train hand-me-down kit cut for
needed to Train hand-me-down kit cut for
needed to Train hand-me-down kit cut for men not women no coverage of the big
men not women no coverage of the big
men not women no coverage of the big games where were my role models where
games where were my role models where
games where were my role models where are my heroes I wanted to change the
are my heroes I wanted to change the
are my heroes I wanted to change the conversation so that future generations
conversation so that future generations
conversation so that future generations don’t have to ask the same tired old
don’t have to ask the same tired old
don’t have to ask the same tired old questions I wanted to create an equal
questions I wanted to create an equal
questions I wanted to create an equal playing field so that women can step
playing field so that women can step
playing field so that women can step onto the pitch as equals so that girls
onto the pitch as equals so that girls
onto the pitch as equals so that girls growing up around the world can just
growing up around the world can just
growing up around the world can just play so had this idea why not have a
play so had this idea why not have a
play so had this idea why not have a kick about at the top of Kilimanjaro
kick about at the top of Kilimanjaro
kick about at the top of Kilimanjaro what at play soccer 2,000 metres higher
what at play soccer 2,000 metres higher
what at play soccer 2,000 metres higher than the world’s highest stadium but how
than the world’s highest stadium but how
than the world’s highest stadium but how do you take an idea from the grassroots
do you take an idea from the grassroots
do you take an idea from the grassroots to a global movement and how do you
to a global movement and how do you
to a global movement and how do you inspire women and girls to do something
inspire women and girls to do something
inspire women and girls to do something that has never been done before and
that has never been done before and
that has never been done before and something people actively told me they
something people actively told me they
something people actively told me they couldn’t do as a committed amateur my
couldn’t do as a committed amateur my
couldn’t do as a committed amateur my greatest sporting achievement to date
greatest sporting achievement to date
greatest sporting achievement to date had been being bumped into by Venus
had been being bumped into by Venus
had been being bumped into by Venus Williams at Wimbledon so step one I need
Williams at Wimbledon so step one I need
Williams at Wimbledon so step one I need it to inspire
it to inspire
it to inspire myself I needed to ask what am i capable
myself I needed to ask what am i capable
myself I needed to ask what am i capable of
of
of how far can i push myself I also needed
how far can i push myself I also needed
how far can i push myself I also needed to speak up a belief silence makes you
to speak up a belief silence makes you
to speak up a belief silence makes you complicit and I was being a spectator to
complicit and I was being a spectator to
complicit and I was being a spectator to my own issues I would need to find my
my own issues I would need to find my
my own issues I would need to find my voice and add to it the voices of others
voice and add to it the voices of others
voice and add to it the voices of others and together speak loud enough to be
and together speak loud enough to be
and together speak loud enough to be heard so secondly I needed to find a
heard so secondly I needed to find a
heard so secondly I needed to find a squad I needed to find 20 players for
squad I needed to find 20 players for
squad I needed to find 20 players for referees and two goalkeepers willing to
referees and two goalkeepers willing to
referees and two goalkeepers willing to put their bodies to the test
put their bodies to the test
put their bodies to the test and step into the unknown I got up from
and step into the unknown I got up from
and step into the unknown I got up from my incredibly comfy sofa and took the
my incredibly comfy sofa and took the
my incredibly comfy sofa and took the first step I called my friend Erin and
first step I called my friend Erin and
first step I called my friend Erin and she immediately said yes I’m in and
she immediately said yes I’m in and
she immediately said yes I’m in and together we went out with a simple
together we went out with a simple
together we went out with a simple message opportunity equality respect
message opportunity equality respect
message opportunity equality respect nothing more nothing less
nothing more nothing less
nothing more nothing less we called up anyone and everyone who
we called up anyone and everyone who
we called up anyone and everyone who would listen but about six months out
would listen but about six months out
would listen but about six months out from the check we almost had to call off
from the check we almost had to call off
from the check we almost had to call off because it was so hard to build that
because it was so hard to build that
because it was so hard to build that initial momentum everyone was like yeah
initial momentum everyone was like yeah
initial momentum everyone was like yeah that’s a great idea
that’s a great idea
that’s a great idea but there is no way I am climbing a
but there is no way I am climbing a
but there is no way I am climbing a mountain and ironically we struggled to
mountain and ironically we struggled to
mountain and ironically we struggled to raise small amount of money for a
raise small amount of money for a
raise small amount of money for a campaign that highlights the struggles
campaign that highlights the struggles
campaign that highlights the struggles that female athletes have to get paid
but slowly our message got through and
but slowly our message got through and one by one we’d built up this awesome
one by one we’d built up this awesome
one by one we’d built up this awesome squad 24 nationalities came forward from
squad 24 nationalities came forward from
squad 24 nationalities came forward from the grassroots to the elite and we said
the grassroots to the elite and we said
the grassroots to the elite and we said to each and every woman that answered
to each and every woman that answered
to each and every woman that answered our call you are worth something you are
our call you are worth something you are
our call you are worth something you are valued we value the time and effort that
valued we value the time and effort that
valued we value the time and effort that you have put in to make this game
you have put in to make this game
you have put in to make this game beautiful and I’ll promise to you we’re
beautiful and I’ll promise to you we’re
beautiful and I’ll promise to you we’re gonna inspire you to do things you never
gonna inspire you to do things you never
gonna inspire you to do things you never even dreamed were possible
together we built a like-minded global
together we built a like-minded global network of women and men because we
network of women and men because we
network of women and men because we believe diversity is our strongest asset
believe diversity is our strongest asset
believe diversity is our strongest asset we had our community we had our volcano
we had our community we had our volcano
we had our community we had our volcano climbing soccer playing goal scoring
climbing soccer playing goal scoring
climbing soccer playing goal scoring squad of mountain sisters and then we
squad of mountain sisters and then we
squad of mountain sisters and then we focused on the mission set a world
focused on the mission set a world
focused on the mission set a world record now growing up I used to watch
record now growing up I used to watch
record now growing up I used to watch the Guinness world record TV show and
the Guinness world record TV show and
the Guinness world record TV show and they had a mantra which is dedication is
they had a mantra which is dedication is
they had a mantra which is dedication is what you need but what they don’t tell
what you need but what they don’t tell
what you need but what they don’t tell you is you need ridiculous persistence
you is you need ridiculous persistence
you is you need ridiculous persistence relentless optimism and a very large
relentless optimism and a very large
relentless optimism and a very large supply of blister plastics halfway up a
supply of blister plastics halfway up a
supply of blister plastics halfway up a night-time thousand meter vertical climb
night-time thousand meter vertical climb
night-time thousand meter vertical climb I did wonder what on earth was I doing
I did wonder what on earth was I doing
I did wonder what on earth was I doing here Haneen one of our players from
here Haneen one of our players from
here Haneen one of our players from Jordan wondered the same thing and she
Jordan wondered the same thing and she
Jordan wondered the same thing and she gave herself two reasons to turn back it
gave herself two reasons to turn back it
gave herself two reasons to turn back it was minus 14 degrees she was exhausted
was minus 14 degrees she was exhausted
was minus 14 degrees she was exhausted she then gave herself 60 reasons to
she then gave herself 60 reasons to
she then gave herself 60 reasons to carry on the 60 people around her
carry on the 60 people around her
carry on the 60 people around her sharing our hopes and her dreams dawn
sharing our hopes and her dreams dawn
sharing our hopes and her dreams dawn broke and we reached the crater and our
broke and we reached the crater and our
broke and we reached the crater and our volcanic lava sand full-size pitch stood
volcanic lava sand full-size pitch stood
volcanic lava sand full-size pitch stood before us five thousand seven hundred
before us five thousand seven hundred
before us five thousand seven hundred and fourteen meters into the sky and
and fourteen meters into the sky and
and fourteen meters into the sky and then came the easy part we got to play
then came the easy part we got to play
then came the easy part we got to play we got to chutes and tackle and miss the
we got to chutes and tackle and miss the
we got to chutes and tackle and miss the ball and save the ball and forget that
ball and save the ball and forget that
ball and save the ball and forget that we’re high up in the air and can’t
we’re high up in the air and can’t
we’re high up in the air and can’t breathe very well
breathe very well
breathe very well we got to play for all the women and
we got to play for all the women and
we got to play for all the women and girls denied the opportunity to play we
girls denied the opportunity to play we
girls denied the opportunity to play we got to play in spite of all the people
got to play in spite of all the people
got to play in spite of all the people who told us it wasn’t possible who told
who told us it wasn’t possible who told
who told us it wasn’t possible who told us how many things could go wrong and
us how many things could go wrong and
us how many things could go wrong and yet here we were playing the beautiful
yet here we were playing the beautiful
yet here we were playing the beautiful game the final whistle blew and I had
game the final whistle blew and I had
game the final whistle blew and I had the coolest feeling I surprised myself
the coolest feeling I surprised myself
the coolest feeling I surprised myself I’d surpassed my own expectations I put
I’d surpassed my own expectations I put
I’d surpassed my own expectations I put my body and my idea to the test and
my body and my idea to the test and
my body and my idea to the test and succeeded and together my team surprised
succeeded and together my team surprised
succeeded and together my team surprised me we’d set a world record for the
me we’d set a world record for the
me we’d set a world record for the highest altitude soccer match of any
highest altitude soccer match of any
highest altitude soccer match of any gender ever
so it’s set a world record but we’d also
so it’s set a world record but we’d also seeded an idea an idea that became
seeded an idea an idea that became
seeded an idea an idea that became bigger than one individual bigger than
bigger than one individual bigger than
bigger than one individual bigger than one team by inspiring ourselves we’d
one team by inspiring ourselves we’d
one team by inspiring ourselves we’d inspired others to use their voices and
inspired others to use their voices and
inspired others to use their voices and we have been heard we put our stories in
we have been heard we put our stories in
we have been heard we put our stories in the news we made a documentary and I’m
the news we made a documentary and I’m
the news we made a documentary and I’m standing here talking to you today we’re
standing here talking to you today we’re
standing here talking to you today we’re addressing the problems I saw from my
addressing the problems I saw from my
addressing the problems I saw from my sofa we’re creating our own role models
sofa we’re creating our own role models
sofa we’re creating our own role models I’ve never been more inspired than by my
I’ve never been more inspired than by my
I’ve never been more inspired than by my mountain sisters so it’s climbing a
mountain sisters so it’s climbing a
mountain sisters so it’s climbing a mountain the end of it no we’re still
mountain the end of it no we’re still
mountain the end of it no we’re still got work to do
got work to do
got work to do less than 10 percent of FIFA’s budget
less than 10 percent of FIFA’s budget
less than 10 percent of FIFA’s budget goes to women’s soccer we want to keep
goes to women’s soccer we want to keep
goes to women’s soccer we want to keep talking about this until we don’t have
talking about this until we don’t have
talking about this until we don’t have to talk about it anymore we want to keep
to talk about it anymore we want to keep
to talk about it anymore we want to keep working together to create change change
working together to create change change
working together to create change change that so that more women and girls can
that so that more women and girls can
that so that more women and girls can climb and conquer their own mountains
climb and conquer their own mountains
climb and conquer their own mountains change until it becomes socially
change until it becomes socially
change until it becomes socially unacceptable not to believe in our idea
unacceptable not to believe in our idea
unacceptable not to believe in our idea of a more equitable society and change
of a more equitable society and change
of a more equitable society and change not through angry protests but through
not through angry protests but through
not through angry protests but through quiet persistence and creating a
quiet persistence and creating a
quiet persistence and creating a community and play now we’re running
community and play now we’re running
community and play now we’re running soccer camps around the world with girls
soccer camps around the world with girls
soccer camps around the world with girls that never even kicked a ball before and
that never even kicked a ball before and
that never even kicked a ball before and coaching female teams to be the best
coaching female teams to be the best
coaching female teams to be the best athletes they can be my idea is on its
athletes they can be my idea is on its
athletes they can be my idea is on its own journey around the world without me
we’ve taken the first step now it’s up
we’ve taken the first step now it’s up to the rest of the squad that’s you so
to the rest of the squad that’s you so
to the rest of the squad that’s you so how do you take that first step on your
how do you take that first step on your
how do you take that first step on your own Mountain journey what’s easy you
own Mountain journey what’s easy you
own Mountain journey what’s easy you just get off the sofa I challenge you to
just get off the sofa I challenge you to
just get off the sofa I challenge you to surprise yourself to change your own
surprise yourself to change your own
surprise yourself to change your own limits of what is possible and what is
limits of what is possible and what is
limits of what is possible and what is permitted and sometimes it’s hard to
permitted and sometimes it’s hard to
permitted and sometimes it’s hard to surprise yourself so use your energy to
surprise yourself so use your energy to
surprise yourself so use your energy to inspire others because you’ll need a
inspire others because you’ll need a
inspire others because you’ll need a squad around you if you’re going to
squad around you if you’re going to
squad around you if you’re going to shift this
shift this
shift this a tusk whoa and finally when your idea
a tusk whoa and finally when your idea
a tusk whoa and finally when your idea is big enough to stand on its own let it
is big enough to stand on its own let it
is big enough to stand on its own let it fly and go and change and be absorbed by
fly and go and change and be absorbed by
fly and go and change and be absorbed by others and then look around you and go
others and then look around you and go
others and then look around you and go and find the next mountain to climb
and find the next mountain to climb
and find the next mountain to climb thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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