The 20×20 campaign is drawing to a close but the increase in impetus and momentum behind giving fair treatment to the coverage of Women’s sport alongside that of Men’s has to carry on.
Each Friday we will carry a Women in Sport Weekly Column, highlighting stories here in Ireland and around the world that are relevant to the idea that we are only catching up to what is happening elsewhere and that while we may be strong in some areas, there are certainly others where we need to prod and poke to ensure fairness.
That’s all, it’s not a takeover, it’s not at the expense of sport that is there already, it is just recognition that sport should be more conscious of its obligation to the 50.5 per cent of the population that has just as much right and talent to play sport as anyone.
FAI CREDIT FOR WOMEN’s GAME PROMOTION
The FAI Media team is pushing out content around the Republic of Ireland Women’s Senior team in exactly the same fashion as they would for the Men’s team.
Daily opportunities to interview management and players have been provided throughout their time in camp ahead of next week’s crunch Euro 2021 Qualifier against Germany.
Imagery and features as well as in house recorded video content has been created and delivered in a professional manner allowing the mainstream media access to pretty much everything they need.
It is a model that more sports are following now, becoming content houses in their own right and reaching out to fanbases without the need to go through the filter of mainstream media.
Online media are quicker to embrace and find a home for the stories but it has to be hoped that things are starting to change across mainstream media as well.
ANOTHER MARQUEE SATURDAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This weekend will see two Liberty Insurance All Ireland Camogie Championship Semi-Finals and one at the same stage in the TG4 All Ireland Ladies Football Championship. They will be competing for space in the Sporting Supplements of our national media against two Semi-Finals in the All Ireland Hurling Championship, a Men’s Rugby International against Georgia, domestic and Premier League soccer and more.
All of the big games have free to air coverage on TV. We will be taking one of our occasional looks at how the coverage stacks up across the print media tomorrow morning.
FIFA’s MATERNITY GUIDELINES
The FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee has backed new reforms to strengthen the protection of female players in the game.
The reforms, developed in close cooperation with stakeholders, will establish new global minimum standards for female players, particularly in relation to maternity.
“Following the recent phenomenal growth and the unprecedented success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France last year, women’s football is now entering its next stage of development,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “It follows that we also have to adopt a regulatory framework that is appropriate and suitable to the needs of the women’s game.”
The proposed new rules which will go to the FIFA Council for formal adoption next month include the provision of mandatory maternity leave of at least 14 weeks, at a minimum of two-thirds of the player’s contracted salary.
They also stipulate that on their return to work, clubs must reintegrate female players and provide adequate medical and physical support.
The aim is that no female player should ever suffer a disadvantage as a result of becoming pregnant, thus securing greater employment protection for women in football.
It is bringing sport into line with every other area of employment and has to be applauded for that.
KARTING DEAL FOR COLBY
16-year-old karting star Alyx Coby has been signed up to participate in the Navigate Partners Driver Management Programme.
Born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Coby is currently competing internationally in the Senior X30 class. Since she started racing at the age of 8 in 2013, Alyx has impressed continually on the international scene and is recognised as a star of the future.
The Navigate Partners Driver Management Programme was created to identify and nurture drivers who possess the talent and attitude to forge a professional racing career.
“Since being introduced to Alyx via the CJJ Motorsports race programme this year, founded by the late John Campion, it has been clear to us that Alyx is an exceptional driver with the talent, outlook and determination to build a career for herself in motorsport,” said Naomi Panter of Navigate Partners.
“She has a brilliant team around her with her father Gary and her new Performance Coach, Hockey International Nicci Daly, and we are delighted to be able to add to that and provide an environment to allow Alyx to develop as a driver and build what we are sure will be a very successful career.”
If you think there is a story around Women in Sport that we should feature please get in touch and let us know.
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