Evelyn Watta

KEN

Role

Vice President, International Sports Press Association & News Producer, Olympic Channel

Evelyn Watta is a Kenyan sports journalist working at the Olympic Channel in Madrid. She also serves as the Vice President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) − the first African woman to be elected to the position.

Watta began her career in Kenya 18 years ago at the broadcasting arm of the Nation Media Group − the largest media group in East and Central Africa. Watta has since worked across various media platforms, contributing to newspapers, and online and other digital platforms.

In recent years, Watta has broadened her knowledge of the fields of sports administration and sports journalism as the Secretary General of AIPS. She has covered the last three Summer Olympic Games, including two Youth Olympic Games, and several other top sporting events across the globe and in Africa.

In 2014, she was named the CNN Africa Journalist of the Year, the first female journalist to win the sports category award. In 2015, she was placed on the “Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya” list by Business Daily Africa.

The speakers

Using the unique power of sport to bring people together, the Olympism in Action Forum saw a range of global players, including Olympic Movement stakeholders, athletes, private and public sector leaders, NGO representatives, academics, artists and the media come together to talk on topical contemporary issues. Chosen because of their ability to effect change and their wide range of sometimes differing opinions, the speakers led lively debates and seeked to challenge received wisdom to inspire new ways of thinking.