The British Minister for Sport Helen Grant (left) announced this week that she expects to see a minimum 25% representation of women on the boards of sports organisations in receipt of public money.
She has set a deadline of 2017 for the implementation of the figure and has threatened that funding will be withheld if the figure is not reached.
As part of our campaign for Parity of Esteem for Women’s sport in Ireland we believe that a similar stand should be taken here.
Quota’s are a blunt instrument for change but when you are working off a low base and in an area where equality and diversity matter a lot, they can sometimes be the only option.
Influence
We have shown through our listing of the 40 Most Influential Women in Irish Sport that there is no shortage of talented and committed Women ready to step up when the opportunity arises.
In the UK not only is the sports minister a woman but so is the chair of Sport England and the CEO of the Rugby World Cup taking place there next year.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph newspaper Grant, a former Juvenile Judo Champion, said “I don’t feel like I am paving the way as some sort of trailblazer but I would certainly like to see sport being more diverse at all levels. I think it’s important that it is representative of the society that we live in.”
“I think women’s sport being one of my priorities is partly down to what sport did for me as a kid and because I know the positive impact it can have for young women today.”
Benefits
Apart from the obvious health benefits of encouraging more women into sport, a survey in the US showed that the proportion of senior Women business executives who had played sport through third level education was twice as high as was the case in the rest of society.
It is too important an issue to merely nod and have the best of intentions. We need to act to ensure that the momentum gathering behind Women’s sport is as evident in Ireland as it is elsewhere around the world.
Building the right programmes for youth participation is critical, as is increased visibility for women at every level of the sport.
Information
Sport for Business recently requested information from sports governing bodies about the level of senior representation within their sport. Over the coming weeks we will reveal that there is much that is good going on in this area, but that more needs to be done.
Basketball Ireland is chaired by a Woman and Jackie Dunne is one of three out of eight board members that are Women.
Athletics Ireland has a similar number among it’s 13 board members with one space presently unfilled. They chair two of the sport’s four governing committees.
Rowing Ireland has three female board members representing 30% of the total number.
Swim Ireland is led by Sarah Keane and the President, Chair, Secretary and Treasurer for 2014/15 are all Women. It is a sport where over 50% of the membership is female and the relationship between membership and leadership cannot be ignored.
These are sports that are open to both sexes and are showing that it is not only possible but desirable to lead the way on equality.
Let’s see how they can be followed by others and what action needs to be taken to ensure that sons and daughters of today have an equal shot at sport tomorrow.
Sport for Business welcomes any comments you have on this story and suggestions on how together we might push harder for parity of esteem in Women’s sport. Use our contact page to get in touch if you would like to add your voice.
