Cheer for Her — campaign to fill stands and grow women’s sport

Skopje, October 30, 2026 — A new public campaign called "Cheer for Her — Full Stands Create Future Champions" has been launched to raise the visibility and popularity of women’s sport and to encourage larger crowds at women’s matches across the country.

The initiative is implemented as part of the project "Fair Play – Support for Gender Equality in Sports Policies", co‑financed by the European Union. The Macedonian Olympic Committee leads the project in partnership with the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation, Sport Social Solutions and the Paralympic Committee.

Campaign focus and partners

Organisers say the campaign targets one of the key challenges facing women’s sport: limited public and media visibility and low attendance at matches. Despite athletes’ results, commitment and successes, many fixtures are still promoted less and played before sparsely filled stands.

"Cheer for Her — Full Stands Create Future Champions" aims to mobilise the public and build a habit of following and supporting women’s sport as a regular part of the sporting and media offer. Larger crowds mean greater visibility for athletes and clubs, more media interest and better opportunities to attract sponsors and partners for long‑term development.

The campaign covers women’s basketball, football, handball and volleyball. In cooperation with the national federations organisers have prepared a calendar of selected women’s matches, published alongside the announcement, and they invite media, institutions, companies, civic organisations, fan groups and citizens to follow the calendar and attend the matches.

Activities planned under the campaign include media and digital actions, match promotions, video and radio content, and direct involvement of athletes, public figures, fan groups, institutions and other supporters. The stated aim is not merely to fill stands once, but to gradually create a new, regular audience for women’s sport and to offer positive role models for children, especially girls.

Organisers call on the public to pick a match from the calendar and come out to support the teams: follow the calendar, choose a fixture and "Cheer for Her — Full Stands Create Future Champions."

By Ognen Dojcinovski

Photo: press material from the event