sports which favour men and which men participate in more than females (F), they are very male orientated, for stronger tough men, all action and, heavy physical contact (F), levels of aggression [are] high (M), sports that are geared towards the masculine physical make-up (M), extremely physical sports including physical risk (M), these sports are dominated by men as in media coverage (F) and you rarely see females playing (F).

Respondents generally agreed on the gender-appropriateness of sports despite the slight difference in gender membership of this group. Male attitudes on sports differed from females’ views, particularly in relation to the overall constitution of masculine and hyper-masculine categories.

While females felt that hunting was masculine, males categorised it as hyper-masculine.

Similarly, men felt that soccer, mountaineering and rock-climbing, cycling, rowing, handball and Gaelic football were masculine while females categorised these as neutral.

Overall views of sports as male- or female-appropriate did not change when male and female responses were compared independently of each other. In this regard, both males’ and females’ ideas about differences between male and female sports converged around particular sporting and bodily characteristics while the differentiation between female and hyper-female (and corresponding male categories) was more problematic.

In summarising the findings from the three national surveys as well as ongoing doctoral research, it seems that sports are perceived as gender appropriate and that the majority of sports involving physical strength, physical contact and overtly competitive attributes are regarded as male appropriate.

Males and females participate in various sports but perceptions of the rates of participation can differ from the actual rates of participation. It also seems that there are cultural barriers to females’ involvement in sport and that these cultural barriers are largely shaped by gender-appropriate expectations.

6.4 Media-Sport

In 1998, female sports groups identified the lack of media coverage as one of the main factors in lower levels of participation by females in sport generally. Moreover, national and local media coverage plays a crucial role in raising the profile of female sports generally and female role models in particular.

While there are differences between local and national Irish media coverage of female sports, it is fair to say that female sports receive less coverage than men’s sports generally. The exception to this has been the launch of the sports magazine “Fair Play”. This magazine endeavours to give females and other minority sports fair coverage.

In 2002, the Dublin Sports and Recreation Council made a submission on the National Women’s Plan with a specific Sports and Recreation focus. One significant piece of research undertaken by the council concerned media coverage of female sports.

This involved monitoring the number of individual players, participants or officials featured in the sports sections of five national newspapers over a period of ten days. The papers monitored were: The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, The Examiner, The Irish Mirror and The Irish Star.

1979 people featured in these pictures. Of these 1924 were of males and 55 were of females. During this time there were no female team photographs. 363 males featured in team photographs. Expressed in percentages this revealed 97.22% of photographs were of men and 2.78% were of females.

In this regard, the submissions to the Joint Committee by the sports editors of the Irish Times and the Irish Independent were both a welcome and informative insight into the production of print sports news. Both sports editors agreed that sport was no different from most other areas of Irish life, that is to say, sport reflects gendered imbalances prevalent elsewhere, though this is changing. In this regard, sociological research concerning the relationship between sport and the media supports Logan’s (2003: 2) contention that

in the case of media coverage, it can still be argued that female sport is the poor relation despite some significant advances in recent years. There is undoubtedly a great disparity between the coverage of men’s and female sports.

While both sports editors acknowledged the disparity in coverage between male and female sports, they also highlighted that sports editors frequently struggle with newspaper editors for the allocation of adequate space for sports generally. This has consequences for the production of sports news. In this regard, Logan (2004: 2/3) argued that

it would be a foolhardy editor who decided to reduce the coverage of a popular sport simply to enhance the coverage of a female event with a small playing base and even an smaller degree of support. No sports editor would be thanked by his or her editor if he or she incurred the wrath of readers due to an element of positive discrimination, no matter how well meaning.

Similarly, Cunningham argued that editors from different newspapers can place differing emphases on news stories and

one might hear that advertising on a given day is very strong and four columns from the sports section will be needed…one could probably fill the five pages devoted to sport twice over, yet they may suddenly be reduced by perhaps a full page or half a page. Without wishing to make this a males versus females issue - it is not - the column inches that Mr. Logan and I, as sports editors, have to dish out every day are fought over. (2004: 6)

In this regard, it is becoming increasingly important for females’ sports organisations to implement professional standards of organisation and self-promotion that can aid journalists and sports editors to profile female sports. Journalists advise that female groups focus on the presentation, style and delivery of material for print as well as giving adequate notice of upcoming events.

While it is easier to assume that a lack of adequate coverage of female sports is symptomatic of gendered media values, the reality of news production is more complex and female sports groups need to be cognisant of the structural constraints, work routines and news values which sports journalists and editors have to negotiate in their everyday working lives.

Taken together, the strategies suggested here can provide female sports organisations with a more informed understanding of the media process as well as a firmer foundation from which to agitate for increased media coverage.

Ultimately, according to sports editors,

responsibility for developing overall sports strategy will always rest with those who have the money to develop the sport in question, including Governments through the allocation of adequate funds, and the sports organisations through promoting and expanding their own sports. (Logan, 2004: 4)

While this is true, it is clearly part of a wider issue in terms of the status given to female sports generally, the importance that government and powerful decision-makers attach to female sports and the ways in which media (print, radio and visual) reflect the dominant issues of the day.

In this regard, media coverage can reflect dominant issues as well as potentially playing a role in challenging the gendered values of the sports system. Sociological research points to the content and production of media items and the role this plays in what people buy, read and view (Creedon, 1994).

As Bernstein (2002) points out, although female sports have received a higher media visibility generally and particularly in major sporting events, it is far too early for a ‘victory lap’ particularly when we consider the submissions and research findings discussed in this Irish report. It is also very useful to draw on relevant international comparisons e.g. with Britain and elsewhere, to appreciate the sport-media nexus.

6.5 International Media-Sport Comparisons

In Britain, the Women’s Sports Foundation recently argued that

the media coverage of female sport is significant because television, radio and the print media play a central role in informing our knowledge, opinions and attitudes about females and sport and informing perceptions that influence its future development. Poor media coverage also results in poorer levels of sponsorship and perpetuates the dearth of visible role models for young females and sports females of the future. (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2003: 4)

Sport England research shows that by the age of seven more boys than girls will have been encouraged to participate in sports. By the time that girls reach eighteen, 40% will have dropped out of sports activity entirely.⁶ In addition, almost half of British females participate in little or no sports at all.

In the USA females receive 8.7% of total sports coverage and the limited coverage that does exist focuses on females as sex objects rather than athletes (Wilson, 2000).

In Australia, successful female athletes struggle for consistent and long-term media coverage (Australian Sports Commission, 2000). Differences exist between different Australian media and their coverage of female sports e.g. television coverage of female sport was 2% of total sports broadcasting while 1.4% of total radio sports broadcasts and 6.8% of sports magazines are devoted to coverage of female sports.

In 2003, 5% of UK sport coverage was devoted to female sports while 2.65% of daily newspaper coverage was dedicated to female sports. The latter figure compares unfavourably with figures from 2000, where 2.3% of tabloid sports coverage was devoted to females and 23 out of 1564 photographs were of female athletes.

In addition, the changes that have occurred in UK media-sport in the past number of years e.g. increasing numbers of radio stations, satellite, terrestrial channels, print media and increasing use of the worldwide web, would seem to suggest that the above figures should be of more political and social concern.

Generally, females are under-represented at all levels of sports media but there are ‘pockets’ of exposure for some sports achievers, depending on the time and context. For example, during the 2002 Commonwealth games 32% of broadsheet and 26% of tabloid sports coverage was devoted to UK sports females and the Swedish commercial broadcaster TV4 gained record viewing figures for its live coverage of the 2003 female World Cup Final between Sweden and Germany.

Overall, there is a clear lack of depth in the levels of media coverage of female sports generally. In addition, a substantial proportion of the limited coverage of female sports is derogatory or focused excessively on physical appearance, personal characteristics or lifestyle.

The lack of focus on a sportswoman’s athleticism, skill and achievements within sports reporting further undermines the status of females in sport. Media decision makers (though we need to be cognisant as to whom this term specifically refers) play a central role in dictating the type and depth of coverage given to female sports.

They can also play a crucial role in support for change. Females are under-represented in all aspects of sports news production including sports journalism, sports photography and sports broadcasting and presenting.

6.6 Summary Recommendations

Taking the findings of this chapter in relation to female sports in Ireland, there is a clear need for:

• A national survey of the Irish public’s interest in female sports coverage;
• Research into television, radio and print media’s preconceptions about what interests the Irish public;
• Consistent and long-term reporting of international and elite fixtures/results in female sports;
• A commitment to female sport generally through public service broadcasting.

Having said that, further research into the Irish sport-media nexus could be usefully employed in looking at whether the poor balance of sports coverage is solely a gender issue as there seems to be a growing disparity between coverage of dominant team sports such as Gaelic games, soccer and rugby and other less dominant sports.

We also need further research to determine what drives sports coverage? For example, tabloid coverage is often driven by sensationalism while other sections of the media are actively engaged in the coverage of sporting events in a relatively less ‘sensationalistic’ manner.

According to the UK Women’s Sports Foundation “the sports females are out there, we just need to engage the audience” (Kay in Female Sports Foundation, 2003: 7). Similarly, is sports coverage becoming celebrity focused and driven? If so, female sports organisations and female athletes themselves will be forced to engage with the requirements of media decision makers i.e. they will have to appeal to sports loving audiences, be visually interesting and exciting to watch.

Similar to the arguments of the two Irish sports editors who presented at the Joint Oireachtas session (24 Jan 2004) i.e. that they were constrained by the interests of their respective editors as well as by what their audiences wanted to read, one British newspaper editor argued that newspapers only publish what their readers want.

In contrast, a national survey of the British public (2003) found that 85% were overwhelmingly in favour of increasing media coverage of female sports. Both males and females felt that the coverage of female sports should be improved and 87% felt that more female sports stars on television would encourage young females to be involved in sports.

While the process of commercialisation, and the broadcast media in particular, have helped to create national and international sporting events, “it appears…that we are entering an era based on media exclusivity rather than universal access” (Boyle and Haynes, 2000: 224). This has implications in terms of the homogenous development of certain sports, for sport in general, and female sports, in particular.

The long-term danger is that, over a period of time, short-term and commercial interests may be prioritised over that which has made sports culturally different. Although the economics of sports promotion are changing somewhat, commercial sports still retain underlying economic, social and cultural values of the sport/media/marketing complex based on the construction of male hierarchies in media institutions, in sport, and on dominant discourses of a particular type of masculinity in media representations of sporting achievement (Creedon, Cramer and Granitz, 1994).

International developments in female sports (arising from the interplay of ideological change and widespread coverage of female sports) show that female sports e.g. golf, soccer and basketball, are becoming increasingly attractive to the sports/media/marketing complex because they are relatively cheap and can attract a critical audience mass in an era of narrowcasting.

However, this is not to imply that the catalyst for change comes only from economic processes. Such as the social construction of gender and gender-appropriate behaviour is subject, historically, to change, so too are the social, political, institutional and economic contexts in which sport exists.

7. International Best Practice

7.1 The International Context – Similarities and Differences

International research provides an insight into the wider sports context in which females participate. Birrell (1983: 49) argues that

the female athlete is a special case in two senses. Because of her sport interests, she is considered a special kind of female; because she is female she is considered a special kind of athlete.

In 2003, UK Sport published a Strategy Framework for Females and Sport which had the following aim – “to change sporting culture in the UK to one that values the diversity of females and enables their full involvement in every aspect of sport” (p.5). They highlighted three key themes of participation, performance and excellence and, leadership.

Similar to Ireland, UK Sport showed that the gender gap between males’ and females’ participation in sport is still substantial. For example, in 1996 UK females were 32% less likely to take part in sport and physical activity compared with males while 40% of young females no longer take part in sport by the time they leave school. They also argued that the lack of visibility of successful female athletes was having a negative impact and that “the lack of visibility of female sport demonstrates that it is undervalued and underfunded compared with men’s sport” (p.5).

Similarly, they showed that females were under-represented in all aspects of leadership in sport. They specifically targeted increases in each of these three areas (participation, performance and excellence) by 2005 and in association with the Women’s Sports Foundation, they have also established monitoring policies to assess progress. This is one of many international examples of ‘good practice’, both in terms of specific targets founded on empirical research as well as measurable outcomes.

In 2000, the International Council for Sports Science and Physical Education published a summary of ‘good practice’ in relation to females and sport around the world. It is striking that since the Brighton Declaration on Females and Sport (1994), the Manila Declaration on Females and Sport (1996) and the Windhoek Call for Action (1998), none of the international guiding principles have been formally adopted in Ireland. The Brighton Declaration includes the principles of:

• Equity and Equality in Society and Sport
• Facilities
• School and Junior Sport
• Developing Participation
• High Performance Sport
• Leadership in Sport
• Education, Training and Development
• Sports Information and Research
• Resources
• Domestic and International Co-operation

While some governments and NGBs have claimed that these principles already exist in some sports policies, the Brighton Declaration of Principles were designed to be implemented in a realistic and coherent way to address gender imbalances in sport. That is to say they required strategic targets and the evaluation of outcomes that can accelerate change in this regard.

The Manila Declaration on Women and Sport (1996) was modelled on the Brighton Principles and focused on countries and needs of Asian females in sport, though readers will see that the policies, structures and mechanisms emanating from this Declaration are relevant to females in sport, generally. The Manila Declaration resolved that:

• Equal opportunity be afforded to all females, regardless of race, colour, language, religion, creed, gender/sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, political belief or affiliation, national or social origin, to participate and be involved in sports;
• Government and non-governmental sports organisations provide equal opportunities to females to reach their sport performance potential;
• Those supporting mass-based elite, and/or professional athletes ensure that
• competition opportunities, reward, incentives, recognition, sponsorship, promotion and other forms of support are provided fairly and equitably;
• Those responsible for the allocation of resources ensure that support is available to sports females;
• The planning and management of facilities should appropriately and equitably meet the particular needs of females in their respective communities;
• Policies be set to ensure greater involvement of females in developing programs and designing structures which would increase the number of female coaches, advisers, decision makers, officials, administrators and sport recruitment, development and retention;
• Those responsible for the education, scientific training and development of coaches and other sport personnel ensure that educational processes or experiences, address issues relating to gender equity and the needs of female athletes;
• Those responsible for research and information on sport develop policies and programmes to increase knowledge and understanding of females and sport, and ensure that norms and standards are based on research on females;
• Resources, power and responsibility be allocated fairly and without discrimination on the basis of sex;
• Government and non-governmental organisations provide adequate financial support to all sports programmes for females;
• An annual Women’s Physical Fitness and Sport Week be declared from March 1-8;
• An International Sports Centre for Women be established to serve as a training, research, and information centre as well as a resource for study grant and cultural exchange programmes;
• A regular Continent specific Conference be held under the leadership of the ICHPERSD;
• State and government machineries by enjoined to comply with the equality provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the U.N. Convention, on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The Windhoek Call for Action (1998) was addressed to all males and females responsible for, and directly influencing, the conduct, development and promotion of sport including those involved in the employment, education, management, training, development and care of females in sport. In addition to re-affirming the principles of the Brighton Declaration, Windhoek called for direct action in the following areas:

• Action plans, objectives and targets to implement the Brighton Principles
• The development of strategic strategies with other sectors such as education, youth, health, human rights and employment
• The promotion and sharing of information
• The creation of mechanisms through which females play a meaningful and visible role in sport at all levels
• The establishment and strengthening of PE programmes as a key means of introducing young females to sport and recreation
• The active involvement of media in covering the breadth, depth, quality and benefits of females’ involvement in sport
• Taking steps to eliminate all forms of harassment, abuse, violence, exploitation and gender-testing
• The implementation of policies and programmes that recognise differences and diversity in females’ lives
• A recognition of the need for governments to conduct gender impact analyses and develop appropriate legislation. Public policy and funding that ensures gender equality in all aspects of sport
• Ensure that Official Development Assistance programmes provide equal opportunities for females’ development and recognise the potential of sport to achieve development objectives
• Encourage more females to become researchers in sport and ensure that more research is undertaken on critical issues relating to females in sport

While the international emphasis has shifted from acceptance of the principles of equity in sport towards action to achieve equity, Ireland is not a member of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Females, the ICSSPE or the European Females and Sport group.

In this regard, the principles of gender equity need to be mainstreamed in a more culturally and politically active manner in Ireland. The ICSSPE highlighted three basic categories where good international practice has been identified and in this regard, UK Sport (2003) mirrored their themes of policy, leadership and participation.

7.2 Relevance of ISC Data

As discussed previously in Section 5.2, Irish Sports Council data shows gender differences in the participation of males and females in sport as well as the number of male and female coaches.

In 1998 the Women in Sport Taskforce report showed that there were fewer female than male coaches and there is little evidence to suggest that this has changed substantially in six years.

Moreover, the proportion of female coaches decreases as the qualification levels of coaches increase.

Moreover, there are more male than female elite athletes and this difference is reflected in the number of performance grants given under the International Carding Scheme.

To date, the Centre for Research into Sport and Physical Activity has not published any national data on the participation of females in sport and this would seem to require prioritisation in research, at the outset. A national research project should provide invaluable data on current trends in participation. In addition to the ISC’s commitment to further research, the Department of Arts, Tourism and Sport has pledged to identify the needs of particular target groups such as females and girls in its future provision of facilities. The main obstacles to young and adult females’ involvement in sports have already been clearly identified in the 1998 Taskforce report.

7.3 Main obstacles to females’ involvement in sport

The main obstacles to females’ involvement at a national level include:

• lack of finance and facilities;
• lack of media coverage
• lack of role models as well as insufficient numbers of sports leaders
• lack of policy, planning and development in relation to females as a specific target group
• lack of financial investment (including sponsorship) in female sports.

These obstacles also prevented female increasing involvement in sport at a local level, along with the need for more co-ordination between schools and community sports clubs. In this regard, the 1998 unpublished Taskforce report suggested a number of realistic and actionable policies to increase females’ involvement in sport at all levels (including coaching, administration, decision-making and participation). These policies included:

• The adoption of equity principles by the government and all sports bodies, particularly in relation to the funding of female sports and decision-making processes in sport generally
• An inaugural Female Sports Awards along with the distribution of information pamphlets on females in sport⁷
• Parent/child and mother/daughter programmes
• The provision of local co-ordinators for programmes such as these as well as the implementation of pilot programmes

These proposed policies remain relevant since 1998 and need to be considered in order to develop more coherent policies in relation to females and sport generally. In the next section, three examples of international good practice are outlined along with summary recommendations for the political organisation of female sports within an existing international network that is clearly working towards the integration of national female organisations.

7.4 Good Practice currently in operation

Example 1: Australian Females in Sport and Recreation Strategy

This programme is a nationally co-ordinated strategy addressing issues such as the participation and status of females in sport and recreation. In response to this, the majority of sports are now moving towards gender equity and a more balanced representation across all aspects of sports. It is not a coincidence that Australia is one of the leading countries in terms of recreational and elite female involvement in sport when it has been proactively engaged in gender equity policies.

Example 2: Achieving Gender Equity: Title IX and Gender Equity in Athletics for Colleges and Universities

Title IX was a legislative initiative designed to provide equal funding for male and female college sports in the United States of America. To date, it has been very successful in terms of the increasing participation of females in college sports as well as the effects on female sports generally. It has also been central to the creation of additional coaching and leadership opportunities for females in sports generally.

Example 3: Developing Equity for Norwegian Females in Sport

From 1984 to 1994 the Norwegian Confederation of Sports appointed a committee to draw up short- and long-term proposals to boost female recreational and elite level participation in sports. Objectives included the establishment of a formal network for females; the provision of information in order to change attitudes and remove barriers against raising female status in sports organisations; the mandatory representation of females on all sports committees etc. and; financial investment in the organisation of female sports.

Several strategies have been commonly applied throughout the world to promulgate success. Those in leadership positions within the government, schools, and community have advocated on behalf of girls and females to ensure sufficient access to facilities, equipment, female coaches, and supportive environments in which to participate and learn. Involving girls and females in decision-making processes has also contributed to project and programme successes. There continues to be, however, a clear under-representation of females in decision-making positions and positions of leadership in sport. In this regard, the Brighton Principles as well as subsequent declarations need to be addressed in a much more coherent format in Ireland in order to formally develop strategies that can improve female sports generally. In order to formally being the process of equal and full participation for Irish females in sport, a co-ordinated, strategic and meaningful approach to policy making and provision is imperative.

Summary Recommendations

To achieve this, several components must be linked together:

• The formation of an Irish Women’s Sports Foundation to include representatives of all female sports organisations as well as the National Women’s Council. This Foundation would ideally be committed to improving, increasing and promoting opportunities for females in sport through advocacy, information, research, education and training. Since 1984 the WSF in the UK (see Appendix G) has been involved in a variety of projects to promote women’s sports with the support of UK Sport and Sport England. It has also worked closely with the British government and international organisations to improve the participation of females in sports. Success can be measured in terms of the National Action Plan for Women’s Sports (1999-2001), Women and High-Performance Coaching (2000-2003) and Women Get Set Go (ongoing) and the increasing participation of females in decision-making, coaching and recreational and competitive sports.
• The principles and actions of the Brighton Declaration on Females and Sport and the Windhoek Call for Action must be committed to and acted upon
• Co-operation and membership should be maintained and strengthened with related national and international groups e.g. the International Working Group and the ICSSPE
• Support for Irish participation in the next World Conference on Females and Sport in 2006
• A co-ordinated focus on females and sport by the ISC, the ESRI and the Irish WSF in order to develop coherent policies with realistic targets and measurable outcomes.

8. Benefits of Increased Physical Activity

8.1 Health Benefits of Physical Activity

International evidence and the submissions received emphasise the health related benefits of females’ participation in physical activities from an early age.

Dr Vincent Maher, (cardiologist, Tallaght Hospital) conducted a survey on Irish adolescents and reported alarming findings (1rish Times, 4 November, 2003).

“The study of activity levels among 940 second level students in the East Coast Health Board Region found that a quarter of the students were overweight or obese”.

This research has yet to be published in full but initial results highlight two other factors in relation to young people and exercise.

“Adolescents who felt they received higher family support for involvement in physical activity or sport were significantly more likely to be regularly active than children who received low support in their home”.

Dr. Maher also emphasised the emphasis placed on sports competition in schools and that only 10 per cent of students can generally make a school team.

A paper published by the European Heart Health Initiative (2001) discussed the results of a survey exploring activity levels among young people in EU member countries. Ireland participated in this survey and the objective of the report was to seek initiatives across member countries to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. The survey highlights that risk factors develop early in life and are therefore most effectively tackled at an early age.

There have been dramatic increases in levels of overweight and obesity in European children and adolescents. In this regard, a physically active lifestyle has direct and indirect health benefits for young people, particularly by: preventing overweight and obesity; helping to build strong bones, healthy joints, and an efficient heart: promoting good mental health; and establishing healthy lifestyles that may continue into adulthood.

The survey also revealed that physical inactivity harms current and future health. Persistent obesity in childhood may increase the risk of developing many chronic diseases on adulthood. These include cardiovascular diseases, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis and colon cancer. Obesity is also linked to psychosocial and psychological problems that can persist into adulthood.

One in four Irish females is at risk of osteoporosis in later life. Participation in strength and weight bearing activities is positively associated with bone density and is believed to be related to a reduced long-term risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. The survey also found that in all countries young males are more active that young females and time spent in activity declines with age across the majority of countries. The decline in young females’ activity levels shows a much sharper decrease than for young males of comparable ages.

The report suggests a variety of proposals to improve activity levels of young people. In particular, it emphasises, time and time again, that in nearly all surveys, young females are less active than young males and activity levels decline steeply in adolescence. “It is thus crucial that activities are promoted which appeal to girls and young females, especially those entering adolescence. These should not necessarily be the activities that we assume are popular, but those identified by young people in consultation”. “A family approach is also justified, in terms of encouraging family activities, although parents may need education and support to help them effectively encourage initiation and sustenance of activities” and “Physical education is clearly an absolute crucial area. PE needs to be enhanced, both in terms of quantity of time devoted to it during the school day, and in terms of the quality of the provision”.

8.2 Social Benefits of Physical Activity

Many of the submissions made to the Oireachtas committee and the 1998 Taskforce emphasise the social benefits of taking part in physical activity. Many of the females responded that it improved their ability to integrate with others.

Key social skills are learnt through games with others and young people develop basic skills and an understanding of rules and team membership through sport and physical education.

Participation in exercise and sport can also enhance social integration, cultural tolerance, understanding and respect for the environment.

Physical activity can give young people valuable experiences that help in learning basic motor skills as well as in social integration, moral and social development and the joy of movement (European Heart Health Initiative - EHHI).

8.3 Benefits to Society

The social benefits accruing to society from its people’s involvement in sport and recreational activity are immense. Money invested in physical activity yields savings in the health budget. It also contributes to the psychological well being of its people.

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism has demonstrated the economic benefit to the state in hosting major sporting events. These benefits are well documented in the government’s publication by The Irish Sport Council, “Targeting Sporting Change” (p.6-9), a strategic plan for sport in Ireland 1997-2006.

In 1995, the total economic contribution from sport was estimated to be £752 million (€592 million). Pride in one’s country’s national successes adds to the psychological well being of a nation. Even more significant is the ability to take pride in being able to participate. The Special Olympics in June 2003 demonstrated to participants and spectators alike that pride in participation is an honour in itself.

Jimmy Deenihan, T.D.

June 2004

APPENDIX A
TERMS OF REFERENCE

The terms of reference of this information gathering process were as follows:

• to review the development of key issues since the 1998 Taskforce Report and collate existing Irish and international research on these issues;
• to assess any changes since 1998;
• to gather submissions from interested parties on key issues related to female participation in sports and physical activities;
• to establish realistic and actionable recommendations based on a review of existing research as well as the issues that NGBs etc. face in the provision of female sports.

APPENDIX B
Individual Submissions

APPENDIX C
Summaries of Submissions to the Joint Committee

The following are the principal points made in written submissions to the Committee.

C1 Ladies Handball – Croke Park

1. Most coaches are male
2. Most referees are male
3. All aspects of sports are more difficult for females: facilities, sponsorship, playing equipment and clothing, prime time on courts etc.
4. Female sports under-resourced
5. Benefits of sport and physical recreation need to be emphasised

C2 CBS Secondary School, New Ross, Co. Wexford

1. Primary school provision of PE for young females has improved but in service training for teachers has been delayed
2. At second level, there is a need to increase the number of Regional Development Officers
3. Need for analysis of reasons why young females drop out of PE, sport etc. at second level
4. Inadequate provision for young females at second level
5. PE for all Leaving Certificate students should be available
6. Model of sport inappropriate - “Most of the sports offered to our students are based on very competitive elitist versions of adult sport. The focus should be on sport as fun for life”
7. Ireland is currently at the bottom of PE schools league tables

C3 Anne Naughton, St. Coman’s Handball Club, Roscommon

1. Lack of PE at primary and post-primary levels
2. Inadequate facilities, would be easy to build handball walls
3. Handball suitable for females and also an Irish sport
4. Lack of gender equality in sport
5. Sponsorship difficulties
6. News coverage in Roscommon good because of local factors
7. Handball an international game. US, Mexico, Australia and parts of Germany
8. Under-resourced

C.4 Paralympic Council of Ireland

1. Have not experienced gender inequalities in Paralympic sports. Huge improvements since 1999

C5 Motor Cycling Ireland

1. Strategic Plan 2002-2005 objective 6.2 to increase number of females involved as both officials and competitors
2. To run open days annually for females

C6 Owen Kelly, Past President of Irish Table Tennis Association National Development Committee, Coach and Tutor

1. Media focuses on boys and men
2. Not enough female coaches
3. Sporting environment doesn’t encourage girls’ participation
4. Social conditioning effects girls more than boys
5. Sometimes separate coaching more helpful for girls
6. Need for female chaperone for girls travelling means added cost
7. Appointment of a female affairs member to committees, not necessarily a woman, in order to be a reminder that there are issues related to females in sport still unresolved
8. Training for coaches in coaching issues related to girls
9. Skills award at early stages rather than competition
10. Opportunities for social interaction
11. Inadequate changing facilities
12. Need for gender equity policies
13. Benefits of sport for girls

C7 Kerry Local Sports Partnership

1. Local Sports Partnership initiatives
   
   1. priority funding to clubs /projects aiming to introduce more girls into sport
   2. girl specific events
   3. greater variety in sports offered to girls
2. Kerry research indicates boys receive more opportunities than girls
3. Twice as many male coaches
4. Majority of funding and promotion for males
5. Recommendations
   
   1. Broad based research into real and perceived barriers to sports participation
   2. Discourage single sex organizations
   3. Irish Sports Council and Local Sports Partnerships should encourage greater diversity in range of sports
   4. Emphasis in mixes primary schools should be on fun rather than competition
   5. Irish Sports structure should have a mechanism for dealing with equality issues and complaints

C8 Laois Sports Partnership

1. PE curriculum abandoned by Dept of Education
2. Teacher training necessary at primary level
3. Need for participation activities
4. Need for mother and child facilities and dressing rooms
5. Team sport attracts more males than female

C9 Elizabeth J Ewkinson, PE teacher at St. Joseph’s Secondary School. Navan, Co. Meath

1. Squeeze on PE curriculum

C10 Ladies Bowling League of Ireland

1. Lack of facilities
2. Benefits of bowling for health and socialisation
3. Lack of media coverage for minority sports

C11 National Coaching and Training Centre – Olivia Sweeney

1. Male programmes super-imposed on females

C12 Equestrian Federation of Ireland

1. Gender equity at all levels of sport, elite as likely to be as much female as male - “Equestrianism, by definition, relies on the horse as much as the rider, the normal gender parameters apply less to this sport than to most others”
2. Level one assistant coaches 72 female 28 male

C13 Irish Blind Sports

1. Visually impaired females in Irish sport doubly disadvantaged: disability and gender discrimination
2. St. Joseph’s School for visually impaired provides education for blind boys. No such opportunities for girls.
3. Government report on provision of education services to blind and visually impaired children-2000 recommended establishment of a co- centre of excellence, “The National Centre for Visually Impaired”. Further feasibility study in 2002, in April 2003, government with withdrew support. Such a centre would address inequalities between boys and girls.
4. Discrimination in main stream schools, sport too dangerous for girls, therefore girls denied full potential
5. Need for PE teachers to have training around disability and inclusive educational methods for blind and visually impaired girls
6. Irish Blind Sports need more resources and volunteers
7. Difficulty of access to facilities due to lack of awareness of needs of the visually impaired
8. Transport inadequate for visually impaired participants
9. Few blind sport coaches are female
10. Media coverage poor, only “ Fair Play” produces electronic version of magazine

C14 Recommendations form Irish Blind Sports

1. Disability awareness for all staff of gyms and leisure centres
2. More volunteers
3. NGBs to be more aware of simple strategies that would enable females to be included in their activities
4. Improved public transport
5. Links between IBS and other NGBs

C15 Irish Women’s Female Rugby Football Union

1. All organizations should endeavour to develop and promote female greater involvement in, and the development of, female sports as well as marketing and public relations.
2. Budgets for female sports should be brought in line with numbers playing; if this were so Irish female rugby players would receive a much greater budget.
3. IRFU Development Officers need to address females in their recruitment, coaching and development plans and targets.
4. All new facilities built by rugby clubs should be mandated to include female friendly facilities, such as separate changing areas.

C16 Olympic Council of Ireland

1. Need to address education, social and economic issues in society to increase female participation
2. Information re Olympic participation of females

C17 Fingal County Council

1. Running seminars on females and sport 2^nd and 4^th September 2003-10-24

C18 Edel Randles (PE Teacher)

1. Need for national research, no base line data available
2. Falling participation levels in some form of physical activity amongst females a cause for concern
3. Action to reverse this trend required at all levels- primary and secondary schools, colleges, parents and workplaces
4. Men and women view physical activity differently- men focus on success and external rewards, women on self-satisfaction
5. Societal stereotyping has impacted on female involvement in physical activity
6. Gender inequality in physical activity and sport is reflected in male domination at all levels of sport, from participation to coaching to administration
7. Media coverage –The Department of health and Leisure Studies in the Institute of Technology, Tralee, carried out a study over four weeks of local and national newspapers and revealed that “women received 7,387 cms. and men received 136,987 cms.” coverage
8. Establish a Women in Sport Taskforce similar to the Women’s Sports Foundation

C19 Irish Squash

1. Emphasised the value of sport and physical activity for personal development, health, both physical and psychological.

9. 25% of squash membership in Ireland is female
10. Stereotyping associated with traditional notions of femininity and masculinity has inhibited female involvement in physical activities.
11. This stereotyping is often carried over into media coverage of sport. The impact of mass media on females and sport cannot be underestimated.
12. Little research available that examines the social and familial benefits of physical activities.
13. PE in the Irish school system is inadequate and uneven across the country.

Recommendations from Irish Squash

1. Direct resources to training programmes to enable females to better understand and develop skill, knowledge and practices that they need to display as leaders in the sport environment.
2. Need to promote females’ involvement as administrators, coaches and referees.
3. Need to promote knowledge and information about health benefits for females from participating in physical activity.
4. An enhanced PE programme in schools with particular regard to the needs of females.
5. Need to focus not only on elite female athletes but also on community based programmes
6. Encourage media to project appropriate role models for females
7. Hold exit interviews to establish the reasons for female drop outs post second level education
8. The Irish Sports Council should provide a dedicated fund for the encourage and initiate projects designed by an NGB or any recognised organization that improves female participation
9. Irish Sports Council should provide training modules and examples of best practice and the most recent international findings related to females and sport

C20 Main Themes of the Submissions

The main themes of the (2003) written submissions to the Joint Committee can be identified as follows:

• The crucial role of Physical Education in encouraging females to become more involved in sports, and the clear need to reorganise the PE curriculum in this regard
• The role of the media in raising the profile of females in sport as well as in reflecting a growing public interest in women’s sports
• The need for a supportive environment for females in sport
• The need for appropriate facilities for females
• The high drop-out rates among females in sport, particularly during teenage years
• The need for a coherent research agenda to explore the issues related to females in sport
• The need for dedicated funding for special programmes in training
• The need for assistance to NGBs and organizations to help identify and implement models of good practice.

APPENDIX D
ORAL PRESENTATIONS MADE TO COMMITTEE, 12 NOVEMBER 2003

Summary of oral presentations made to Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaelteacht Affairs on Wednesday, 12 November 2003.

Oral presentations were made by

Ms Maeve Kyle, former Olympian

Ms Gina Menzies, International squash player, Chair of Taskforce on Women in Sport, 1997

Ms Debbie Massey, CEO Basketball Ireland

Ms Maeve Kyle spoke of her own experiences as a child and adult in the world of sport.

She had grown up in an environment where she encountered many opportunities to try many different sports and recreational activity: everything form handball to hurling, rugby, hockey and athletics. Maeve excelled at hockey and athletics and became an Olympian in athletics. Ms Kyle said that though she had spent a great deal of time at the elite end of sport she believes it is not the most important role for sport.

Ms Kyle emphasised the need to make physical recreational activities fun for young people. She also pointed out the role such activities can play in developing self-esteem in young adults. During some of the worst times in Northern Ireland, sport played a significant role in bringing women together. What they enjoyed most was the participation and opportunities for social contact.

Good recreational programmes were necessary at primary level. There is a need for a fundamental programme which teaches the development of motor skills at primary level. Such a basis is necessary before interest in any particular activity can be developed. If girls, in particular did not experience the joy of physical activity in their formative years, it is a much more difficult task to get them interested in later years. The need for diversity and choice was also critical in attracting females to sport and physical activity.

Women’s involvement in sport and recreational activity becomes more difficult as they enter the workforce and juggle home activities at the same time. Often the first casualty is women’s leisure time, despite the fact that physical activity is a very important part of the health and development of women.

Ms Gina Menzies spoke of a similar background to Maeve Kyle’s. She had opportunities to experience a wide variety of different sports until she choose to concentrate on racket sports and became an international squash player.

Ms Menzies outlined the main findings and recommendations of the 1997 Taskforce on Women in Sport and the Brighton declaration of 1994 which has yet to be adopted by Ireland. Twenty six recommendations of the taskforce have yet to be implemented. Many recommendations call for equity in relation to the distribution of resources and appropriate support structures for female involvement in sport and recreational activity. The report highlighted the need for female involvement at all levels of sport, not just as participants, but as coaches, referees, managers and decision makers.

Ms Menzies highlighted the health benefits available to females who take part in physical activities throughout their lives. This aspect is often forgotten by policy makers. One in four Irish females will develop osteoporosis. Scientific research has demonstrated that physical activity, especially in the early years of a female’s life is of enormous significance in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Media coverage, or the lack of it, in relation to female involvement has hindered the progress of females. There are very few role models for females of every age. Consequently, individual females and female teams receive far less sponsorship than males. Probably the most significant obstacle to female participation in sport and recreational activities is the absence of well constructed and resourced physical education programmes in primary schools. Where sporting opportunities do exist they emphasise competitive sport and research has shown that females are less interested in competition and more interested in the fun aspects of sport.

The Irish Sports Council should appoint a person responsible for the development of initiatives for female sport. A data bank of information about females needs to be put in place.

Ms Debbie Massey made her presentation in her capacity as Chief Executive of Basketball Ireland.

Ms Massey indicated that there are approximately 125,000 people involved in playing basketball. Approximately 25,000 play at community level, where the facilities are located in local authority areas, in flat complexes and in public playgrounds. 20,000 play at club level. A large number area involved at participation level. Membership breaks down roughly 50-50 female and male. It is perceived to be a cool sport. Young girls often take it up at second level even though they have not played at primary level. Secondary school basketball is the strongest sector of the sport, where the female sector is stronger that the boys’.

The female game does not receive the same media coverage as the male game. This makes it more difficult for females to get sponsorship even at national level.

Basketball can be costly, cost factors include hiring of gyms, at € 40 per hour, also referees fees must be paid.

Ms Massey highlighted problems relating to the provision of gym halls by the Department of Education and Science. The dimensions of a proposed gym are in direct proportion to the projected pupil intake. This means that many schools will not achieve a full basketball court because of insufficient numbers. As basketball has no assets the capital grants scheme is of no benefit to basketball.

Ms Massey also highlighted the lack of column inches given to female sport. This in turn produces few role models for females.

Also the role sport plays in preventative disease such as breast cancer and other reproductive cancers.

Basketball is drawing up a document that will outline how its governing body can help alleviate difficulties faced by female players. There is also a review of the competitions model. It is hoped that these two initiatives will make a difference to female involvement in the sport.

APPENDIX E
References

Australian Sports Commission (2000) An Illusory Image: A Report on the Media Coverage and portrayal of Female Sport in Australia.

Bernstein, A. (2002) ‘Is it Time for a Victory Lap?: Changes in the Media Coverage of Females in Sport’. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 37 (4): 415-429.

Birrell, S. (1983) ‘The Psychological Dimensions of Female Athletic Participation’ in Boutilier, M. and SanGiovanni, L. (1983) The Sporting Woman. Champaign, I.L.: Human Kinetics.

Boyle, R. and Haynes, R. (2000) Power Play: Sport, the Media and Popular Culture. London: Pearson Education.

Coolahan, J. (1982) ‘The Irish Education System and its Future’. Paper delivered to the Council of Education Unions, 22 October.

Cramer, J. (1994) ‘Conversations with Females Sports Journalists’ in Creedon, P. (ed.) Females, Media and Sport: Challenging Gender Values. London: Sage.

Creedon, P. (ed.) (1994) Females, Media and Sport: Challenging Gender Values. London: Sage.

Creedon, P. J., Cramer, J. A. and Granitz, E. H. (1994) ‘Pandering or Empowering? Economics and Promotion of Female Sports’ in Creedon, P. (ed.) op cit.

Cunningham, P. (2004) ‘Oral Presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee’. 21 January.

Department of Education (1977) A Policy for Youth and Sport. Dublin: Stationary Office.

Department of Education (1992) Education for a changing world. Dublin: Stationary Office.

Department of Education (1994) The Economic Impact of Sport in Ireland. Dublin: Government of Ireland Official Publications.

Department of Education (1997) Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland: Sport in Ireland, 1997-2006 and Beyond. Dublin: Government of Ireland Official Publications.

Department of Education and Health Promotion Unit (1996) A National Survey of Involvement in Sport and Physical Activity. Dublin: Government of Ireland Official Publication.

Department of Education and Science (2000) Exploring Masculinities. Dublin: Government Publications Office.

Department of Health (1995) Be Nifty at Fifty. Dublin: Government of Ireland and Health Promotion Unit.

Department of Health and Children and Health Promotion Unit (1999) The National Health and Lifestyles Survey. Dublin: Government of Ireland Official Publications.

Department of Health and Children and Health Promotion Unit (2003) The National Health and Lifestyles Survey. Dublin: Government of Ireland Official Publications.

Dublin Sports and Recreation Council Submission on the National Women’s Plan with a specific Sports and Recreational focus, 2002

Dowling, C. (2000) The Frailty Myth. New York: Random House.

East Coast Area Health Board (2004) The Take Part Study: Physical Activity Research for Teenagers. Dublin: East Coast Area Health Board and Centre for Sports Science and Health, DCU.

European Females and Sport Working Group - http://www.ews-online.com

Female Sports Foundation (2003) Britain’s Best Kept Secrets.

International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (2000) Females, Sport and Physical Activity: Sharing Good Practice. Berlin: Verlag.

Jones, T., Duffy, P., Murphy, G. and Dinneen, J. (1991) Girls and Boys Come Out To Play. Limerick: Physical Education Association of Ireland.

Liston, K. (1999) ‘Playing the Masculine/Feminine Game…so he plays harder and she plays softer’ in PaGes: Postgraduate Research in Progress. Faculty of Arts, U.C.D.. Vol. 6: 133-147.

Liston, K. (2001) ‘Sport, Gender and Commercialisation’ in Studies. Vol. 90 (359): 251-266.

Liston, K. (2002) ‘The Gendered Field of Irish Sport’ in Corcoran, M. and Peillon, M. (eds.) Ireland Unbound: A Turn of the Century Chronicle. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration.

Liston, K. (2004) ‘Irish Sporting Bodies’ in Bairner, A. (ed.) Sport and the Irish. Dublin: UCD Press. Forthcoming.

Logan, M. (2004) ‘Oral Presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee’. 21 January.

Lynch, K. and Lodge, A. (2002) Equality and Power in Schools: Redistribution, Recognition and Representation. London: Routledge Falmer.

Scraton, S. (1992) Shaping Up To Womanhood: Gender and Girls’ Physical Education. Philadelphia: Open University Press.

UK Sport (2003) UK Strategy Framework for Females and Sport. London: UK Sport.

Waddington, I., Malcolm, D. and Cobb, J. (1998) ‘Gender stereotyping and physical education’, European Physical Education Review. 4 (1): 34-46.

Wilson, W. (ed.) (2000) Gender in Televised Sports: 1989, 1993 and 1999. Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles.

Additional Internet Sites

www.asn.or.at/esc - European Sport Conference Online and European Women and Sport Group

www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/index.html - United National Internet Gateway on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women – Womenwatch

www.bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/ge/index.html - Gender Equity in Sports, University of Iowa Research Project

www.wowsports.org - World of Women’s Sports

www.iapesgw2005.org/ - 15^th International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women

APPENDIX F
Women’s Sports Foundation – www.wsf.org.uk/

The Women’s Sports Foundation is the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to improving and promoting opportunities for women and girls in sport and physical activity. It was formed in 1984 by women working in sport who were concerned about the lack of sport and recreation opportunities for women, and the low representation of women in sports coaching, sports management and the sports media. Since then, it has become more formally organised around issues of representation, policy and media and works in co-operation with UK Sport, Sport England and the British Sports Trust. WSF became a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in 1997.

How is it funded?

At present the Women’s Sports Foundation is funded primarily by Sport England.

Since May 2003, the Pentland Group plc has been a main corporate sponsor. SAQ International sponsor WSF’s quarterly newsletter - Women in Sport. WSF also receives a small amount of additional income via other grants, donations and supporter subscriptions for their magazine and information resources.

What has it achieved?

Since 1984, the Women’s Sports Foundation has been involved in a variety of projects to promote women’s sport. These have included:

• The Women’s Sports Foundation Awards for Girls and Young Women, sponsored by Tampax, which provided £100,000 in grants to young sportswomen during 1992 and 1993.
• Training for Britain’s top sportswomen on working with the media, attracting sports sponsorship, employment opportunities in sport and recreation, and receiving benefits from sports science support.
• The National Action Plan for Women’s and Girls’ Sport and Physical Activity (1999-2001). The WSF National Action Plan advocated a multi-agency approach to promoting sport and physical activity for women and girls, and was designed to encourage sport-related organisations to identify targets and actions that would help to achieve sporting gender equity.
• Women into High Performance Coaching Project: a three-year pilot scheme, established in 2000 by the WSF and sports coach UK. The scheme is working with four national governing bodies of sport to develop women into high performance coaching positions.
• Women Get Set Go: a personal development course intended to provide a springboard for women into sports leadership, whether as coaches, administrators or officials. The British Sports Trust is now running this course in partnership with WSF.

The WSF works with key decision-makers in the UK such as sports policy and strategy-makers at national and regional levels, in order to change sports policy, practice and culture for the benefit of all women and girls. Its core aims include:

• inform and share: by providing advice and information on up-to-date research, policy and strategy development, sources of funding, and national and regional initiatives;
• influence and lead: by influencing national and regional government, and sports council strategy and policy to make sure that all policies, strategies and programmes are equitable;
• promote and motivate: by collecting, developing and sharing examples of best practice.

Appendix G
IOC 3^rd Women and Sport World Conference
Marrakech, Morocco, 7-9 March 2004
Report by Catherine Hughes, National Development Manager, UK Women’s Sports
Foundation

Attendance

1.1 Over 600 delegates from 127 countries attended the IOC’s 3^rd World conference on Women and Sport in Marrakech in March. The conference was titled ‘New Strategies, New Commitments’ and followed the last conference held in Paris 2000. It was chaired by Anita de Frantz who heads up the IOC’s Women and Sport Commission.

Programme

Sunday 7^th March

2.1.1 There was an opportunity provided to attend a Continental session, of which ours was Europe. Please see Appendix 1 as a report of that session.

2.1.2 Jacques Rogge, IOC President, opened the conference with a speech focusing upon the need to increase women in leadership positions. He said ‘to increase participation of women in the Olympic Games is relatively easy to do. Is this participation reflected in National level federations? To be honest, the answer is no’, and that was a theme that continued throughout the 3 days. The IOC took the unprecedented step in 1996 of setting targets for its National Olympic Committees/Federations to achieve 20% representation by women in decision making roles by 2005. Although it was criticised at the time, after all 20% is not equal representation, the IOC should also be commended as the setting of such targets highlighted the inequities that existed to certain audiences who could otherwise have chosen to ignore the issue.

Monday 8^th

2.1.3 The morning session had a number of speakers talking on a variety of subjects, the most entertaining being Erica Terpstra, President of the Netherlands Olympic Committee who entertained the audience with her descriptions of life as an Olympic athlete in the Olympic villages of the 50s, and also reminded delegates that today was International Women’s Day, and what a unique opportunity we had to celebrate. Yaping Deng, member of the IOC’s Athletes Commission reminded us that ‘Sport is a social force with a major impact on the structure of society and the condition of women’.

2.1.4 The morning session finished with the results of the Women in Sport Leadership IOC study conducted by Loughborough University. Anita White led the discussion on the headlines findings, namely that 62% of NOCs have achieved the targets set by the IOC; 26% have not. The successes had been the rapid growth in the number of women leaders, the quality of the women recruited (highly educated, qualified, top level sportswomen), their contributions to the work of their NOCs and that the setting of the targets had ensured a simple understandable policy goal. The limitations had been that setting of targets only affected part of the system, the achievements of targets had been seen by some NOCs as an end in itself on gender equity work, that the targets did not take into account different social and cultural conditions, and that many NOCs had viewed the targets as a maximum, not a minimum achievement.

2.1.5 In the afternoon delegates had the choice of attending 2 out of 4 themed workshops on Marketing and Business, Gender Considerations, Historical and Religious Constraints and Women in the Olympic Movement. I chose to attend the Marketing and Business session and Women in the Olympic Movement.

2.1.6 Marketing and Business - Speakers presented on as diverse subjects as the changing dress code, prize money, sport as a career. Andre Gorgemans described how the development by Speedo of its Fastskin full bodysuit had enabled Pakistani women to participate at the 2002 Commonwealth Games for the first time. Melinda May from Meridian told delegates that to develop a career in sport, they would have to assess their own education and skill levels, make adjustments if necessary by retraining, to network and to take risks.

2.1.7 Women in the Olympic Movement – topics covered were Capacity building, the role of NOCs, and two success stories from International Table Tennis and Softball. I thought that this was the poorer of the two afternoon sessions I attended, and although the content material was interesting up to a point, struggled to see the relevance for the wider gender equity issues. Some of the delegates expressed their frustration and lack of empowerment in dealing with their NOCs, and there are clearly issues around how much support can be provided to these women, particularly when the response from the IOC is that you have to work with and within the existing structures.

Tuesday March 9^th

2.1.8 The morning session was divided into a similar pattern to the afternoon before – with delegates attending 2 sessions from Media Exposure, Partnerships for women’s advancement, Leadership, and the role of Role Models. I attended Media Exposure and Leadership, as these are key themes of Women’s Sports Foundation’s work.

2.1.9 Media Exposure - Anita de Frantz spoke on Media portrayal, in her most effective contribution to the conference. She highlighted the American statistics that men’s sporting news stories are reported in newspapers at 20 to 1 their female counterparts and that 95% of sports TV is about men’s sport. Linda Rulashe from South Africa, Editor of the Sunday Sun newspaper quoted ‘the prettier and sexier the women athlete, the more column inches she will occupy’ and that sportswomen are frequently reported in terms of their height, weight and hair colour. The use of inappropriate language and views of women’s bottoms were also discussed both by delegates and speakers. The session stressed how things were changing however, and that this was helped by women themselves moving into positions of influence within sports media, and by greater awareness of potential exploitation by women athletes, and journalists.

2.1.10 Leadership – topics covered included Training and capacity building, Enabling a supportive environment, Women in NOC structures, and Access to sport in Morocco. The best contribution during this session was from Karen Mason from the World Bank which is starting to work with the IOC. She stated that research in all sectors had shown that there were 6 main ingredients to empower women as leaders – Infrastructure, the Rule of Law and Justice, Capacity, Access to and Control of Resources, having a Voice, and Freedom from Violence. She stated that although generally there more women leaders in richer countries, even here women are under-represented in all walks of life, particularly politically with less than 20% representation. She mentioned how building infrastructure particularly impacts upon women’s lives where research had shown that women in southern Africa can walk up to 16 x to the moon to gather water per month, and that when roads are built in an area, the enrolment of girls in school is doubled. Lastly, she emphasised the need for women to have access to better reproductive health, so that women can chose to have fewer children, and those children are in better health, are better educated and are in better jobs.

In Conclusion

3.1.1 The conference finished with a Summary of the sessions, and the agreement of the Recommendations – Appendix 2

3.1.2 My personal conclusions are included below;

Firstly, there is still no sense of sanction from the IOC towards NOCs who fail to meet their equity targets. This may be because the IOC itself is currently failing to comply with only 12 members out of a current 124 being women. Yet these targets have been known about since 1996. What happens to those NOCS next year who have still not achieved the target?

Secondly, women delegates repeatedly described their feelings of being marginalized or ignored by their NOCs in their attempts to get access to either committee roles, resources, whatever it may be. The advice from the IOC was that those individuals needed to work with their NOCs to gain access! But if you feel truly disempowered, how can you continue to accept rejection without eventually giving up?

Thirdly, the European continent, unlike all the other continents, does not have an official (European) IOC Women and Sport Commission. There are a number of reasons for this, including the existence of the European Women and Sport Working Party. I’m not in favour of setting up structures for structures sake, but unless this issue is addressed, then I feel that the IOC will continue to find it easy to ignore the voice of European women.

Lastly, it is increasingly confusing that the IWG has a World Conference on Women and Sport, as does the IOC. From the outside looking in, who will be able to differentiate between the IWG’s 3^rd World conference in Montreal (2002), and the IOC’s 3^rd World Conference? Undoubtedly the IOC brand will attract certain sporting organisations as delegates, as it has such a powerful influence in sport, whilst the IWG conference may well be more attractive to a more cross-sectoral audience, and has a more inclusive way of working. But an under resourced National or International sporting federation is going to find it difficult to support a delegate every two years to each conference, particularly when the issues discussed are so similar, and I fear may well decide to only follow the bright Olympic flame.

Each one of these issues must be discussed and resolution sought, otherwise I believe the international world of sport will not be working in the most effective way to reach the goal of women’s equality in sport.

Appendix H: Glossary

APPENDIX I

BRIGHTON DECLARATION ON WOMEN IN SPORT

The Brighton Declaration on Women in Sport brought together 280 delegates, from 82 countries to establish and develop an international strategy for women and sport that encompasses all continents.

Scope and Aims of the Declaration

The overriding aim is to develop a sporting culture that enables and values the full involvement of women in every aspect of sport.

It is in the interests of equality, development and peace that a commitment be made by governmental, non governmental organisations and all those institutions involved in sport to apply the principles set out in the declaration by developing appropriate policies, structures and mechanism which:

• ensure that all women and girls have the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe and supportive environment which preserves the rights, dignity and respect of the individual;
• increase the involvement of women in sport at all levels and in all functions and roles;
• ensure that the knowledge, experiences and values of women contribute to the development of sport;
• promote the recognition of women’s involvement in sport as a contribution to public life, community development and in building a healthy nation;
• promote the recognition by women of the intrinsic value of sport and its contribution to personal development and healthy lifestyle.

1. The Principles

1. Equity and equality in society and sport

2. Every effort should be made by state and government machineries to ensure that institutions and organisations responsible for sport comply with the equality provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

3. Equal opportunity to participate and be involved in sport whether for the purpose of leisure and recreation, health promotion or high performance, is the right of every woman, regardless of race, colour, language, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national or social origin;

4. Resources, power and responsibility should be allocated fairly and without discrimination on the basis of sex, but such allocation should redress any inequitable balance in the benefits available to women and men.

2. Facilities

Women’s participation in sport is influenced by the extent, variety and accessibility of facilities. The planning, design and management of these should appropriately and equitably meet the particular needs of women in the community, with special attention given to the need for childcare provision and safety.

3. School and Junior Sport

Research demonstrates that girls and boys approach sport from markedly different perspectives. Those responsible for sport, recreation and physical education of young people should ensure that an equitable range of opportunities and learning experience, which accommodate the values, attitudes and aspirations of girls, is incorporated in programmes to develop physical fitness and basic sport skills of young people.

4. Developing Participation

Women’s participation in sport is influenced by me range of activities available. Those responsible for delivering sporting opportunities and programmes should provide and promote activities which meet women’s needs and aspirations.

5. High Performance Sport

• Governments and sports organisations should provide equal opportunities to women to reach their sports performance potential by ensuring that all activities and programmes relating to performance improvements take account of the specific needs of female athletes.
• Those supporting elite and/or professional athletes should ensure that competition opportunities, rewards, incentives, recognition, sponsorship, promotion and other forms of support are provided fairly and equitably to both women and men.

6. Leadership in Sport

Women are under-represented in the leadership and decision making of all sport and sport-related organisations. Those responsible for these areas should develop policies and programmes and design structures which increase the number of women coaches, advisers, decision makers, officials, and sports personnel at all levels with special attention given to recruitment, development and retention.

7. Education, Training and Development

Those responsible for the education, training and development of coaches and other sports personnel should ensure that education processes and experiences address issues relating to gender equity and the needs of female athletes, equitably reflect women’s role in sport and take account of women’s leadership experiences, values and attitudes.

8. Sports Information and Research

Those responsible for research and providing information on sport should develop policies and programmes to increase knowledge and understanding about women and sport and ensure that research norms and standards are based on women and men.

9. Resources

Those responsible for the allocation of resources should ensure that support is available for sportswomen, women’s programmes and special measures to advance this Declaration of Principles.

10. Domestic and International Co-operation

Government and non-government organisations should incorporate the promotion of issues of gender equity and the sharing of examples of good practice in women and sport policies and programmes in their associations with other organisations, within both domestic and international arenas.

APPENDIX II

LIST OF MEMBERS

Deputies:

James Breen (Ind)

Michael Collins (Ind)

Jimmy Deenihan (FG)

Damien English (FG)

Jim Glennon (FF) {Vice-Chairman}

Cecilia Keaveney (FF) {Chairman}

Peter Kelly (FF)

Fiona O’Malley (PD)

Brian O’Shea (Lab)

Jack Wall (Lab)

G.V. Wright (FF)

Senators:

Brendan Daly (FF)

Joe McHugh (FG)

Labhrás ó Murchú (FF)

Joe O’Toole (Ind)

John Paul Phelan (FG)

Kieran Phelan (FF)

APPENDIX III

Orders of Reference

Dáil Éireann on 16 October 2002 ordered:

1. 1. That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, consisting of 11 members of Dáil Éireann (of whom 4 shall constitute a quorum), be appointed to consider -
      
      1. such Bills the statute law in respect of which is dealt with by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; such
      2. Estimates for Public Services within the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and
      3. such proposals contained in any motion, including any motion within the meaning of Standing Order 157 concerning the approval by the Dáil of international agreements involving a charge on public funds,

   as shall be referred to it by Dáil Éireann from time to time.

   
   
   2. For the purpose of its consideration of Bills and proposals under paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (iii), the Select Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 81(1), (2) and (3).
   3. For the avoidance of doubt, by virtue of his or her ex officio membership of the Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 90(1), the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (or a Minister or Minister of State nominated in his or her stead) shall be entitled to vote.
2. 1. The Select Committee shall be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Seanad Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to consider -
      
      1. such public affairs administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as it may select, including, in respect of Government policy, bodies under the aegis of those Departments;
      2. such matters of policy for which the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are officially responsible as it may select;
      3. such related policy issues as it may select concerning bodies which are partly or wholly funded by the State or which are established or appointed by Members of the Government or by the Oireachtas;
      4. such Statutory Instruments made by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as it may select;
      5. such proposals for EU legislation and related policy issues as may be referred to it from time to time, in accordance with Standing Order 81(4);
      6. the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs pursuant to section 5(2) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and the Joint Committee shall be so authorised for the purposes of section 10 of that Act;
      7. such annual reports or annual reports and accounts, required by law and laid before either or both Houses of the Oireachtas, of bodies specified in paragraphs 2(a)(i) and (iii), and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select;

      Provided that the Joint Committee shall not, at any time, consider any matter relating to such a body which is, which has been, or which is, at that time, proposed to be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts pursuant to the Orders of Reference of that Committee and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993;

      
      

      Provided further that the Joint Committee shall refrain from inquiring into in public session, or publishing confidential information regarding, any such matter if so requested either by the body or by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and

      
      
      8. such other matters as may be jointly referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas,
         and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas.
   2. The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be five, of whom at least one shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one a member of Seanad Éireann.
   3. The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 81(1) to (9) inclusive.
3. The Chairman of the Joint Committee, who shall be a member of Dáil Éireann, shall also be Chairman of the Select Committee.”.

Seanad Éireann on 17 October 2002 (^*23 October 2002) ordered:

1. 1. That a Select Committee consisting of 6 members* of Seanad Éireann shall be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee of Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to consider-
      
      1. such public affairs administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as it may select, including, in respect of Government policy, bodies under the aegis of those Departments;
      2. such matters of policy for which the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are officially responsible as it may select;
      3. such related policy issues as it may select concerning bodies which are partly or wholly funded by the State or which are established or appointed by Members of the Government or by the Oireachtas;
      4. such Statutory Instruments made by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and laid before Houses of the Oireachtas as it may select;such proposals for EU legislation and related policy issues as may be referred to it from time to time, in accordance with Standing Order 65(4);
      5. the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs pursuant to section 5(2) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and the Joint Committee shall be so authorised for the purposes of section 10 of that Act;
      6. such annual reports or annual reports and accounts, required by law and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, of bodies specified in paragraphs 1(a)(i) and (iii), and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select;

      Provided that the Joint Committee shall not, at any time, consider any matter relating to such a body which is, which has been, or which is, at that time, proposed to be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts pursuant to the Orders of Reference of that Committee and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993;

      
      

      Provided further that the Joint Committee shall refrain from inquiring into in public session, or publishing confidential information regarding, any such matter if so requested either by the body concerned or by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism or the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs;

      
      

      and

      
      
      7. such other matters as may be jointly referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas,
         and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas.
   2. The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be five, of whom at least one shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one a member of Seanad Éireann.
   3. The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 65(1) to (9) inclusive.
2. The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be a member of Dáil Éireann.

¹ with fifty-one per cent of a sample of 55-75 year olds participating in some form of physical activity (though not necessarily ‘sport’).

² even when potential problems in the differentiation of response categories are taken into account e.g. between ‘relaxation’, ‘making life more enjoyable’ and ‘releasing tension’.

³ http://www.irishheart.ie/PRO/heartwise/2003/Winter/article2.pdf

⁴ The most strenuously active category are males in the 18-35 year age-group.

⁵ The demographic breakdown of respondents was as follows: 83% were aged 17-28 years, 94% were Irish and the remainder European; all were undergraduate students in UCD (12% part-time); 92% categorised themselves as sports participants (including being a sports supporter) while only 1 respondent had ‘no interest or involvement whatsoever in sport’; 52% were female while 48% were male.

⁶ For a more detailed discussion of the socialisation of females and impacts on sports participation read Dowling (2000).

⁷ As of 26^th February 2004, the Irish Times and Mitsubishi Electrical have introduced the IT Mitsubishi Women in Sport Award. Other monthly and annual award schemes are sponsored by organisations such as such as Texaco, the Irish Independent etc. However, the IT Mitsubishi Award is one of the first to focus solely on female athletes.

^* by the substitution of ‘6 members’ for ‘4 members’.