IT’S a numbers game, definitely all about the numbers. This week marked 100 days till the Vitality Netball World Cup and the Scottish Thistles will be there alongside two other home nations that qualified, England and Northern Ireland. Liverpool is the venue so it’s only a train ride away for supporters and this should allow an opportunity for a good strong Scottish contingent.
In football was the announcement recently of a £10 million investment into the women’s game in England, followed quickly by Boots supporting all four home nations and Republic of Ireland in a deal said to be in the millions. There was also the announcement from the Scottish FA of their investment into their 20 Under 20 programme. This initiative is the first of a series of Uefa Women’s Under-19s European Championship Legacy projects, and will see the association place 20 female coaches between the ages of 16 and 20 on a one-year coach development course.
Added to that and a bit further afield, Australia were also counting numbers for a recent Aussie Rules women’s football match, and the powers that be were not only delighted at the incredible attendance at the Grand Final but also at the broadcast figures of 409,000.
Let’s also look at the numbers one and 140. Sue Strachan is the number one, as she has been voted in as president elect to Scottish Cricket – the first female in the 140-year history. Sue, who is so very passionate about sport, will be an excellent president. With squash, hockey and cricket her current sports, she definitely practices what she preaches and is keen to ensure that the momentum that is currently surrounding cricket continues apace.
The number that interests me, however, is 50-50. As we grow ever nearer to 2020 I am aware that it is one of the ambitions of the Scottish Government, and Nicola Sturgeon in particular, to encourage all organisation to have a strong gender balance on their boards. My hope is that all sporting organisations will themselves review their structure and make provision for more women to be welcomed in as decision-makers in all areas of sport.
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