The gap between men and women’s participation in sport in Ireland is shrinking. Figures in the 2013 Irish Sports Monitor published by the Irish Sports Council show that women’s participation has increased by 3.7% in the two years since 2011 and now stands at 42.7%.
This compares to men’s participation which climbed by only 1.1% and is now at 52%.
The biggest changes are at the most important younger end of the scale as well.
The gap between men and women aged 25-44 playing sport in 2011 was 19.7%. Over 24 months that has fallen sharply to 13.3%.
The same sharp closing of the gap is seen in the teen age group as well from 16-19. The figures are based on a survey of 9,500 individuals interviewed at different times of the year. It is expected that growth in women’s rugby fostered by a successful World Cup campaign in 2014, and the major investment announced recently by Continental Tyres and the FAI in women’s soccer will see the figures drawing closer again in the next wave of this research.
Companies like Liberty Insurance and Aon are putting resource behind the promotion of elite women’s sport and creating role models that will accelerate the change.
It would be better still if the research could return to an annual basis is it was through 2007-2009 as it provides clear evidence on how sports development is taking place and the changes that are being fostered by Government and business investment.
Most importantly it also shows where sport is developing fastest and this may in many cases be outside the range of where the focus has been.
See more about the launch of the Irish Sports Monitor 2014 and download the full report.
