WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS – LOCKDOWN PRESENTING OPPORTUNITY FOR INDOOR AND CONTROLLED OUTDOOR SPORTS
The number of women who currently participate in sports or who closely follow sporting events is steadily increasing, despite the traditional believe that women are not allowed to participate in games exclusively for men.
On 19 April 1967, Kathrine Switzer made history by circumventing the ban that prevented women from competing in a marathon. She also did this in the oldest marathon in the world — the Boston Marathon. She did not just run it, she finished it with a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes despite the organizers’ boycott.
Times have changed, and the International Olympic committee (IOC) has played an important role in establishing a positive trend to enhance women’s participation in sports.
Over the last 30 years, the IOC has been advocating for the participation of women at all levels, encouraging National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) to enhance the presence of women in sports at all levels.
The success of the IOC Women in Sports Policy is noticeable in terms of women’s participation in the games. The number of women competing at the games has increased significantly over the last 30 years – from 26.1 percent at Seoul 1988 to a record of 45.2 per cent at Rio 2016. In October 2018, the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Buenos Aires 2018 was the first fully gender balanced Olympic event ever.
Women have over the years carved a niche in the sport arena. There can’t be mention of some sports without the big-name women players.
Serena Williams has taken it upon herself to see that the U.S. remains an international force to be reckoned with in tennis. She has won 13 individual Grand Slams as at 2014—not to mention eight doubles Grand Slams and three Olympic gold medals.
Ronda Rousey has emerged as one of the biggest stars in MMA. Russian tennis pro Maria Sharapova is not just one of the top women sports, she is in the conversation about who rules the sport. NASCAR driver Danica Patrick is a polarizing figure in the sports world.
Nigeria is not left behind as Blessing Okagbare is a light bearer in the athletic world. Loveliness Obiji paralympic gold medalist is also a force to reckon with, Asisat Oshoala (Football), Funke Oshonaike (Table Tennis), just to mention but a few.
According to the Women and Sports report, women who participate in sporting activities at school have a 76% chance of remaining interested in sports for the rest of their lives. So, we need to encourage the children and wards to give it their best shot.
Women are known to put in their best in their choice career, so the world must change her mindset. The present lockdown presents opportunity for indoor and controlled outdoor sports. It is important now more than ever to discover new passion, because sport has long since ceased to be a man’s game.
#EndInequailtyinsport #Womeninspire #Womeninsport.
