11 November – The UK’s leading sports organizations have launched the Equal Sport project, a joint commitment to make the UK the world’s leading nation for women and girls in sport.
The FA, RFU, Sport England, UK Sport, LTA, England Netball, Team GB, Youth Sport Trust, Women’s Sport Trust and Women in Sport have released pledges. Brighton & Hove Albion, the Women’s Super League, British Rowing and school leaders’ associations have also signed up. Any organization can join by committing to measurable progress on at least one of the five goals over two years:
- Equal access to sport for girls at school
- Equal relevance, reach and revenue for women’s sport
- An equal workforce throughout the sport
- Government structures redesigned for equality
- Equal access to sports facilities
Backers say the momentum is real but uneven. Research this year found that less than 1% of women working in sport believe equality has been achieved, and more than half believe they are paid less than men for the same role. Women’s sport receives around 9% of coverage on key channels. Only 46% of girls are active, compared to 52% of boys, and 41% of boys say some sports are for boys.
“Football has a huge platform and a responsibility to use its influence to drive progress across the sector,” said Sue Day, the FA’s director of women’s football. “With the prospect of hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035 on the horizon, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to inspire the next generation.”
Baroness Sue Campbell, president of England Netball, said: “Women’s sport has reached a defining moment. We have seen extraordinary progress over the past decade, but we know that equality will not happen by accident.”
UK Sport chief executive Sally Munday said: “While much has been achieved, and despite what some may say, the road to equality in sport is far from over.”
Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, added: “No one organization can solve these challenges alone, and this needs to be a collective effort.”
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