L.A. stands for LA Awesome!

I had the most wonderful opportunity to attend the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Women and Sport Conference in February. This was a once in a lifetime experience. This conference is held every four years and this was the first time it had been held in the United States. This conference hosted very important women from across the world. These women are a part of the United Nations, Presidents or high ranking officials of their National Olympic Committees, Olympic athletes that have taken on the responsibly of equality of women in sport, and many other amazing women who are doing great things to bring women to the forefront of the sport scene in their countries.

The conference brought to center stage just how far we, not only as the United States, but as a global community have to go to get women into decision making roles, in business, in sport, and in the media. Women's sports coverage is around 5% of all televised sports related news. I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure there are a lot more women out their competing in news worthy sports than that 5% covers. There are other statics that I would encourage you to research. It is ridiculous. The only time in television sports that women and men are represented equally are the two weeks every two years during the Olympic Games. The problem is not only in sports, but in other media and how they portray women in stereotypical roles more often than not. Our children grow up watching more TV than ever, and they are being fed images of what society thinks of the gender roles they should play.

I don't know about you, but I want my (non-existent) daughter to believe that she can be whatever she wants to be. I want to empower her to dream bigger than she even thinks is possible. If she wants to be an ESPN commentator that is not just a sex symbol, but covers real sports, then do it. If she wants to be the owner of a Fortune 500 company, she can do that too. If she wants to be a stay at home mom, she can, but it won't be because society has told her that is her place. I want to encourage her be an independent thinker and dreamer, who will pave the way for future generations of women.

I get very passionate about women's rights and this conference has encouraged me to do more, even if it is something small, to get the next generation of women in sport one step closer to equality.

Okay, off my soapbox and on to the amazing City of L.A.! I am in love with this town. When we arrived at our hotel there were protesters outside of it. Vice President Biden and the Vice President of China were meeting at OUR hotel and staying there! Crazy! The place had an awesome feel! It was a wonderful representation of the beauty of free speech in our country!

We saw Steve Nash in our hotel lobby and supposedly Britney Spears made an appearance one of the clubs we had a reception at! Awesome! Hollywood was fantastic and scary all at the same time! There are some looney toons loose! We stayed at the JW Marriot which is right in LA Live. That was was so fun. It was like a city within a city. At one of the events they had a red carpet, so I HAD to pretend I was famous of course. I really need to get back to California ASAP! I want to do some star stalking and venture out to some other areas as well! I will let the pictures I posted below speak to how much fun I had in this great city!

Protesters!

Hollywood!!

HA! Weird People...

The President of the IOC

Elizaveta
Look her up! 

Jennie Finch! Bring Softball back to the Olympics!:)

Diana Nyad spoke at our conference as well!

Geena Davis speaking at our Conference!

Watch out Kim K.! Leigha is on the red carpet now! 

That looks like a famous lady!

Chinese Theater!

Future NBA commentator...perhaps! 

I would like to thank the Academy and my agent. I wouldn't be here today without you! LOL!

All in all it was a phenomenal trip! I am so thankful to have been able to go as a part of my really cool job! What more could a girl ask for? Oh yeah equal opportunities in sports! ;)