IT has definitely been the summer for women in sport which was quite nicely rounded off with the Women’s World Cup Rugby Final which was shown live on Saturday night primetime TV and by all accounts was an excellent display of rugby watched by over 32.6 million TV viewers.

The good thing about this is that the debate that followed afterwards. It was not about the fact it was played by women, it was about the tactics, the team, the game – not the gender of who was playing it.

I have a feeling that this summer has been a game changer for women in sport, however we are still on the journey and have quite a distance to go before we can confidently say we have arrived.

Many years ago the ambition for every sport who had a programme for their women athletes, was to get their national final covered by TV, football for me was no different at that point.

However the concern was always, would the game on the day live up to the expectations of the broadcaster, would it hit their target numbers, would it reflect well on the sport?

One particular Scottish Cup final comes to mind, scheduled to be played early summer and televised. A telephone call from the referee advising me that it had rained consistently overnight and the game was in danger of being called off, was my early morning alarm call.

On arrival at the ground, the club had everyone out on the park, officials included, trying to drain the park before kick-off.

We made it with just seconds to spare and the game was played.

It wasn’t the best spectacle that football had ever produced, as the heaviness of the ground made it hard work for the players and the officials, but at that point I was just relieved that we had managed to stage the game at all – and had not had to disappoint the viewers.

THANKFULLY for Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour, Badminton is an indoor sport. She can hold her head up high after a superb performance at last week’s World Badminton Championships which were held in Glasgow.

I have read that Kirsty was disappointed in this result, and I am sure that is the case for most elite athletes who always aim for the top spot, but given the issues that Kirsty has faced this year after she was sent reeling from having her UK funding stopped, it was a stellar performance and one in which she will build on and move on from.

Many accolades have been written about the success of the event, and quite rightly so, and I believe that part of the success of Scottish events, are the Scots themselves.

We are one of the most helpful nations and always willing to go that extra mile to help a visitor, one of the things I love about Scotland.

TAKING a little bit of Scotland to New York last week, Sharon Martin, who I have told you about before. She was invited out to the Womens Tennis Coaching conference in US to sing her song, Girl – Daughter of Scotland.

While the song was written with a focus on Scotland, the words of encouragement and empowerment for young women and girls ring true, no matter where you are in the world.

Sharon has received requests now from all over Scotland to perform her song, which has a rousing bagpipe section in it and is slowly working her way through the various sports, performing in sports arenas, at awards ceremonies, trackside – it’s basically girl and piper will travel.

“We’re on the move and I’m telling you

The glass ceiling’s going, we’re coming through.”

THE season will soon be kicking off for many of our sports, Netball’s Sirens, Basketball’s Caledonia Pride and Scotland’s national football team. All of these sports and their elite athletes are looking to inspire women, old and young and anywhere in between to take up sport.

You don’t have to become an elite athlete, you just need to want to have fun, get fit and make friends. You can find out more about what’s happening in your area by contacting your local sports centre. Look out your leggings and t-shirts and give it a go.