Marie-Thérèse Eyquem

Marie-Thérèse Eyquem (6 September 1913 – 8 August 1978) was a French feminist, politician, and author. Under the Vichy regime, she participated in the ban against multiple women's sports including association football. In the 1960s, she became more involved in politics and joined the French Socialist Party.

Early life Marie-Thérèse Eyquem was born to baker and insurance employee Robert Eyquem and teacher Louise Eyquem (née Bisserié) on 6 September 1913 in La Teste-de-Buch, Gironde, France. She moved to Paris with her family in 1924. In 1927, she began work while continuing to receive education by correspondence.

Vichy France Eyquem was appointed to the General Commission of Physical Education and Sports of Vichy France on 17 August 1940 as the director of women's sports, serving under General Commissioner Jean Borotra. She applied the Vichy government's Révolution nationale policy to sports, critical of sportswomen who transgressed the traditional norms of femininity. On 27 March 1941, she announced a ban against women's participation in many sports including association football, rugby, boxing, wrestling, and cycling.

After the merger of the Rayon Sportif Féminin and the Gymnastic and Sports Federation of French Patronages (FGSPF), Eyquem was chosen as assistant by the organization's head . She accompanied Thibaudeau on his visits across France, and contributed to the integration of women into the FGSPF. With FGSPF general instructor Olga Batany, Eyquem organized a "Festival of the Sportswoman" in Paris in 1941 and another on 5 July 1942; the latter gathered 20,000 spectators and between 4,000 and 5,000 participants.