The advance of respect for Women in Sport has accelerated in recent years and is already in a better place than many might have imagined. But it has still got a long way to go to achieve the parity of esteem we have been pushing the agenda on for a decade. We have been far from alone but progress is all about today and tomorrow and we cannot ease up.
Change generally comes in smaller rather than larger gestures. In the everyday improvements that add up over time to make a real difference.
It’s the 24/7 spotlight that matters and to keep that on, Sport for Business, with the support of our Women in Sport Partner Lidl will, each Friday for the next 24 weeks, highlight seven things in the week gone by that have been important to note in the world of Women in Sport.
Week Ending November 25th, 2022
One: BOARD REPRESENTATION RISING
The full research from Sport Ireland will not be released until next week, when you will be able to read it first on Sport for Business but at the Sport Ireland Annual Governance Conference on Thursday, we got a sneak peek at the numbers.
Female representation on the Boards of Sporting bodies has increased to 36 percent, up from 22 percent ten years ago.
In addition, half of the National Governing Bodies have now achieved the required 40 percent gender balance ahead of the deadline just over twelve months from now.
Progress.
Two: STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED
The English Men’s football team was found wanting on standing up for LGBTQ+ rights during this week at the World Cup. They could take a lesson from the women’s cricket team though. They are reported to be set to boycott the Player of the Match awards at next year’s ICC T20 World Cup to protest against the treatment of Women in Saudi Arabia. The awards are sponsored by Saudi energy company ARAMCO.
Three: GLOBAL CULTURE WARS
We heard during the week stories of a sporting Conference on Women in Sport, a first for this particular sport which could be heading to Saudi Arabia after an offer was made to foot the bill for all traveling delegates.
Could a greater gain be had from hosting in another country but still paying for the delegates’ travel, and then hosting the event in five years’ time when further progress had been made on rights? Just a thought.
Four: STAR POWER FOR SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers F.C. this week confirmed the signing of Ireland International, Áine O’Gorman, a first signing for the ShamrockRovers Women’s National League Senior squad which will compete again in the Women’s National League in 2023.
Capped 114 times by Ireland, O’Gorman joins Rovers after a number of years with Peamount United.
“I have had a great few years at Peamount, they have done a lot for women’s football and for me personally throughout my career for which I am very thankful. Signing for Shamrock Rovers is an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down and I’m really looking forward to the new challenge. I am delighted to be joining such a big club, one that is putting the structures in place for the long-term growth and development of women’s football in Ireland.”
Shame the announcement didn’t quite match the coverage in Irish media of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Man United but for those who care…
Five: #ItsMyTime for Women Over 40
Sport Ireland, in partnership with Healthy Ireland, has launched “It’s My Time”, a new campaign that aims to encourage women over 40 to increase activity levels through exercise and sport.
This is the launch video from the campaign.
Six: O’MAHONY TO THE FAI
Niamh O’Mahony is to be nominated for election to the Board of the FAI, representing the professional game after a ‘hustings’ and election held last night online.
O’Mahony currently works as the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Governance with Football Supporters Europe, a group representing supporter-owned clubs.
She has been involved from the early days of supporter ownership at Cork City FC and is a former director of the club.
The vacancy created by Dick Shakespeare’s stepping down from the Board last week will be filled at a reconvened AGM on December 15th and O’Mahony faced off against Caroline Rhatigan for the nomination, winning 21-18 in a tight vote of representatives from the clubs, Men’s and Women’s leagues, players and underage leagues.
O’Mahony is a long-time member and supporter of Sport for Business and has spoken at a number of our events over the years.
Her elevation to the FAI Board will see female representation rise to 25 percent, still short of the 40 percent requirement by the end of next year in order to comply with Government backed Governance criteria on equality of representation at leadership level.
Seven: ATHLONE AND SHELBOURNE LEAD WOMEN’S FOOTBALL AWARDS
Athlone Town’s Emily Corbet and Tommy Hewitt took home two of the top prizes at the 2022 SSE Airtricity Women’s National League Awards.
Corbet was named the SSE Airtricity Player of the Year and Hewitt as SSE Airtricity Manager of the Year following a sensational season for the Midlanders, who finished second in the League and runners-up in the EVOKE.ie FAI Women’s Cup.
There were three Athlone players included in the Team of the Year, including Corbet and her teammates Jessica Hennessy and Muireann Devaney.
Double winners Shelbourne also had three players selected in Jess Gargan, Shauna Fox, and Jessie Stapleton, while Wexford Youths had Ellen Molloy and Ciara Rossiter and there was one apiece from Bohemians (Rachael Kelly), Peamount United (Áine O’Gorman) and Sligo Rovers (Emma Doherty).
