Canada has launched the latest international move towards building parity of esteem for Women in Sport.
Supported by a social movement in the Canadian Dairy Farmers Association, the movement will aim at making a mark in six key areas.
- Introduce thousands of young girls to Canada’s top female athletes through sports clinics, meet and greet events, and social media community development.
- Support local women’s sports teams and leagues across the country through direct sponsorships, promotions and grassroots volunteerism.
- Increase exposure by securing event broadcasts for women’s sports both online and on television.
- Build “home field advantage” by filling seats in the stands at women’s sports games through promotions and ticket giveaways.
- Create passionate fandom for women in sports by sharing inspirational stories and experiences.
- Gather information on the unique culture and state of women in sports by supporting research in partnership with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity.
Fuelling Women Champions will bring together athletes, teams, national governing bodies and commercial partners to raise awareness and understanding of the hurdles that stand in the way of equality in sport.
Sport for Business is currently working on a number of initiatives that will produce a better environment for Women’s Sport in Ireland and will be announcing more details in the coming weeks
Canada’s Most-Celebrated Women Athletes, Women’s National Teams, and Leading Sports Organizations Join Canada’s Dairy Farmers in Fuelling Women Champions
“The mandate of Fuelling Women Champions is to see that no hurdle exists that might hinder passion for the game, and in our inaugural year, we are focusing on shining a spotlight on women in sport,” said Wally Smith, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada.
“We’re working with some of Canada’s top athletes and thought-leaders within the women and sports arena to enable more women and girls to get involved in sports and to create more fans.”
“The need for this kind of program is great. Young girls are simply not receiving the same opportunities to develop fundamental movement skills.”
“Only four per cent of Canadian girls achieve their recommended levels of daily physical activity.”
“The drop-off rates for teenage girls in sports compared to boys stands at an alarming six to one ratio. Even in adulthood, only 19 per cent of Canadian women participate in sports.”
“Girls play sports for different reasons than boys, and they have a unique sports culture all their own,” explained Leanne Nicolle, board member at the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity.
“They place greater emphasis on the social aspect of sports, and their aspirations are not about making it to the big leagues, because often, they don’t exist – as a result, more women play purely for the love of sport.”
“I want to show the next generation of females that you can compete in sport, have your own life and family, similar to any male professional athlete,” said Jennifer Jones, top curling champion, lawyer and motivational speaker. “Through this program, I hope women and girls will be inspired to fuel their own inner champions.”
“This movement is for women and girls from all walks of life, at all skill levels,” added Smith. “We want to see more goals met, more greatness realized, and the benefits of sport universally enjoyed.”
