Magdalena Lobnig is an ambassador for the FE&MALE Sports Conference at Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2025

The 34-year-old, who won the Olympic bronze medal in the single sculls in Tokyo three years ago at the peak of her career, is looking forward to her new role with great anticipation. "I expressly support the goals of the FE&MALE Sports Conference and am very much looking forward to working on this exciting project," says the Carinthian looking ahead. She was crowned U23 World Champion back in 2012, and Lobnig then won the European Championships in 2016. This was followed by three more silver medals at European Championships and two bronze medals at World Championships (2017 and 2018). 

The two previous events (2023 and 2024) of the FE&MALE Sports Conference have already succeeded in sending a clear signal about gender equality in sport in Austria. The new motto for the 2025 edition, "Successful Together", is intended to symbolise that equality in sport is a win-win situation for women and men. 

Investments in popular sport as one of the focal points
The programme of the event in the congress hall of the Linz Design Center will be divided into three central sections:

• Why is it worth investing in girls and women in grassroots sport?
• What significance do women have as a target group and market in sport?
• What contribution do women in sport make to promoting equality, diversity and social change?

The keynotes and panels will once again be organised by top speakers from Germany and abroad in the coming year. The "More than Equal" project founded by Formula 1 world champion David Coulthard is likely to attract particular attention. The aim of this initiative is to lead a woman to the Formula 1 World Championship for the first time. The complete programme with all speakers will be published in mid-December.

New study results from the Linz Market Institute provide data
"Advantage Ladies" is already THE national think tank on the topic of women's sport in Austria. "Advantage Ladies 2025" has set itself the goal of highlighting the potential in women's sport, both for the retail sector and for the media, for sponsors and therefore also for female athletes, coaches and officials, which has not yet been taken into account.

In order to provide concrete data, market research was commissioned from the Linz Market Institute. The results of this representative study will be presented at the FE&MALE Sports Conference in Linz on 29 January 2025.

The FE&MALE Sports Conference "Advantage Ladies" is organised by Upper Austria Ladies Linz, Sport Austria and the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV). The WTA 500 tennis tournament provides both the occasion and the setting. The only WTA women's tennis event in Austria is the most important women's sporting event in the country. In the more than 30-year tradition of the tournament, 19 players who have already reached the top of the world rankings have served. The event is the second oldest women's indoor tournament on the tour and has established itself as a true classic. With TV broadcasts in over 150 countries worldwide, the event is a beacon for women's sport in Austria. 

The 34th Upper Austria Ladies Linz will be held at the Design Center Linz from 26 January to 2 February 2025. The FE&MALE Sports Conference "Advantage Ladies" will take place on Wednesday, 29 January 2025, in the congress hall of the Design Center. Tickets include participation in the conference and attendance at the evening matches of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz.

Tickets for both events are already available in advance and can be purchased via the tournament's online shop at www.ladieslinz.at can be purchased.