Consequences for Women's Sport due to Covid-19

[RedToothBrush]

This twitter thread is an interesting read. Surprised that its the Telegraph that has put together this.

Telegraph Women’s Sport @WomensSport
As Britain begins its recovery from lockdown, women's sport is being left behind.

@RealDeniseLewis, @JudyMurray, @GabbyLogan, @traceynev, @JacquiOatley and @Aliceliveing_ and other leading sportswomen have joined forces in a letter to the government.

www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2020/06/19/denise-lewis-expresses-disappointment-treatment-womens-sport/
Denise Lewis expresses disappointment in treatment of women's sport during coronavirus crisis
Stars of women’s sport also backed the Telegraph’s ‘Equality Check’ campaign

As #projectrestart was being planned in the premier league.

Women’s sport was silent and there were concerns that the momentum gained could be lost.
www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2020/05/02/womens-sport-risk-lost-not-prioritised-return-lockdown/
Women's sport at risk of being lost if not prioritised in return from lockdown
Concerns are growing that women's sport is being pushed down the agenda, with potentially devastating consequences

Superleague clubs have already called on fans for financial support to help safeguard their futures amid fears they could go under.
www.telegraph.co.uk/netball/2020/06/01/superleague-clubs-call-fans-financial-help/
Superleague clubs call on fans for financial help
Saracens Mavericks have launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking to raise £50,000

US Open organisers slammed for 'discriminatory' decision to omit wheelchair tennis for 2020 tournament

@jordannejoyce92 says organisers have sent a message to the world that "the able-bodied division is the most important"

www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2020/06/18/us-open-organisers-slammed-discriminatory-decision-omit-wheelchair/
US Open organisers slammed for 'discriminatory' decision to omit wheelchair tennis for 2020 tournament
Jordanne Whiley says organisers have sent a message to the world that "the able-bodied division is the most important"

Yesterday, League One side Gillingham became the highest-placed men’s side to drop its women’s team amid the coronavirus crisis.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/06/20/gillingham-should-ashamed-disgusting-decision-drop-womens-football/

Gillingham should be 'ashamed' of themselves for 'disgusting' decision to drop women's football team
West Ham captain Gilly Flaherty, who has been based in the south east for nearly 13 years, is unhappy with the League One club's decision

^Lastly, Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of @Womeninsport_uk
also requested for “women’s sport to return with real urgency".^

What do you think the government could do to ensure that the momentum for women’s sport is not lost?

Let us know

Awful that women's sport has been making real strides in recent years and this will set it back years.

There seem to be way too many men (I'm guessing they're men) who think sport is for living vicariously. Be a couch potato, but while the game is on in your head you can be an All Black. Obviously, the people they think are lesser mortals wouldn't fill that function.

Then there are those of us for whom sport is an enjoyment. And high-level competition among people like us is an inspiration to set our own goals a bit higher.

Be nice if the flabby vicarious supermen could just shut up and watch teevee, instead of trying to hog all the money for their own fantasies.

That the 'able bodied' are the only ones that matter is exactly the same viewpoint as the one which says the Covid vulnerable should be behind close doors to get the economy running again.

Out of sight and out of mind please, let the big money spinners get on with it. That a fair slice of the exceptionally vulnerable are the big money spinners (just needing heavy duty drugs to keep,their normal, healthy lives that way) is also totally overlooked. Because that puts how shitty people are being into too sharp a focus.

Covid was an opportunity to re-set.

It's already too late - and I expect the opportunity for climate change issues will be lost in the search for manmoncash to reinforce the economy quickly.

Whereas following the science should have made them start women’s fixtures first... what with women being less likely to catch (or die!) from covid19.

Likewise the smaller crowds they usually attract would enable the crowd to socially distance more easily.

I saw an interesting segment on a programme about how sport should have started with a bottom up approach - starting with small local low-risk events, and gradually building to the larger ones.

But I suppose the Premier League had the money to isolate and test players and necessary staff, and the acreage to put camera crews into otherwise empty stadiums.

The 'start with the richest and healthiest' approach does seem to be a common factor across many sectors, not just sport.