The Women’s National Cup Final at the National Basketball Arena on Friday night was a great example of Women’s sport at its most competitive and in the right environment. Unfortunately, it came at the end of a week which showed how far Women’s sport still has to go to gain the respect it deserves.
A dramatic finale in Tallaght meant the UL Huskies and Team Montenotte Hotel from Cork were pitched into overtime as the sell out crowd reacted with genuine passion and excitement. It was a better game than the Men’s final which followed and was given equal billing on the night and on the TV coverage that Setanta Sports delivered.
The Irish Examiner on Saturday gave over the front page of its sports supplement to a picture of the winning captain and in general, the media coverage and the acceptance of the Irish sporting public were as it should be in recognition of real talent, regardless of gender.
The Australian Open tennis concluded a few hours after and delivered another Grand Slam win in the Women’s event for Li Na, before an estimated TV audience of 70 Million. Her wit in post-match interviews and power on the court are a great example of how a determined woman can make it to the top of a sport and become every bit as much of a star as her male counterparts.
And yet only days earlier Eugenie Bouchard had become the first Canadian to make a Grand Slam semi-final in 30 years. Her post-match interview and media coverage was dominated by a question on who she would date if she had a choice from any celebrity in the public eye. Could you imagine Andy Murray or Roger Federer being asked the same question at the same, or indeed any stage of their career?
This followed on the heels of an embarrassing twitter expose of sports fans prejudices earlier in the week. Sky Sports undertook an online request for questions and comments around an interview with Olympic medal-winning gymnast Beth Tweddle which was dominated by innuendo and comments about appearance.
Thankfully a similar request from Game On in Ireland with Irish Rugby Captain Fiona Coghlan elicited a response that was more about sporting achievement than appearance.
There is no question that Women will one day have equal billing and equal opportunity in sport as they do in every other aspect of life in a mature society.
It needs a step up though from the media, the sports themselves and the commercial companies finding their way towards increased investment to get there. Sport for Business is committed to making sure that the steps we take are in the right direction.
Read more about our commitment to Women’s sport
Lesson for Sport: The post match interview with Bouchard was controlled by the Tennis authorities. It was not a ‘lad’s mag’ interview. You cannot demand respect without giving it.
Lesson for Business: Making a commitment to Women’s Sport now can deliver more for society than would normally be seen as a target for a sporting sponsorship.
