THERE was a walk down memory lane last week for many top athletes as we celebrated five years on from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Many talk about the inspirational athletes but for me most moving moment came out of a tragedy less than a year later. Stephanie Inglis, a silver medallist in judo in 2014, was in a motorbike accident whilst working in Vietnam. It left her life hanging in the balance.
This wasn’t just due to the extent of her injury, it was also because she required specialist treatment – a major setback as the cost for air transfer was phenomenal. So, with thanks to her good friend Khalid Gehlan, who started a JustGiving campaign, and with the generosity of a nation, within a few days over £300,000 was raised.
When Stephanie came out of her comma six weeks later, plans were put in place to bring her home. Thankfully there was a great ending to this story, as after a few extremely tough years, Stephanie is now back working in sport and enjoying life. What a difference five years can make.
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I hope that the next five years will bring about change and that women and girls will be welcomed into all levels of sport on an equal footing. This week is another first, and will become a marker for the future, as we witness the first female referee, Stéphanie Frappart from France, take control of a major Uefa men’s showpiece event. She has been given charge of the Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea later this month and it will be interesting to see the press and fan reaction, both before, during and after the game. I am hoping that it will not be a case of writing the script beforehand, but rather accepting that she is an official first and female second.
Progress is happening, it may be taking some time, particularly if you are female and ambitious in sport. However, a culture change doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time, persistence and an indomitable spirit which I believe most women and young girls possess. That plus the growing army of male allies will ensure that a gender equal society is closer than ever.
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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