Gemma Fay’s Post

Women won 67 out of the 126 medals won by U.S. athletes at the recent Olympics. The success of U.S. women athletes is in part attributable to the success of Title IX. The battle for gender equity in sports hasn't yet been won since women often still have less financial backing, less media coverage, and fewer resources. The U.K.-based organization, Women in Sport, reported that the U.S. ranked eighth for medal parity between men and women, and noted that the top 10 countries rank above average on the United Nations' Gender Inequality Index, “showing that there is a direct correlation between women’s sport and broader social equality.” https://lnkd.in/gN2WC_vK #womeninsports #womenathletes #womenolympians #genderequalityinsport

I am honored to have shared my insights on the importance of female representation in sports coaching in a recent interview with the CEV. Reflecting on the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where only 13% of the coaching staff were women, it is evident that we have a long way to go in achieving gender equality in sports leadership. As the first female professional beach volleyball player from Austria and a top 10 world-ranked athlete, I have seen firsthand the impact of having diverse perspectives within a team. Women naturally bring a more holistic approach to coaching, focusing on effective communication and fostering a supportive team environment. This approach not only benefits female athletes but also enhances the performance and cohesion of male athletes. In my current role as a mentor for the Austrian national beach volleyball teams, I have been able to bridge communication gaps and foster team spirit. It is crucial that we recognize and promote the value of female coaches. Implementing female staff is a forward-thinking move. International organizations should think about supporting and empowering female coaches, similar to the programs available for referees and transitioning athletes. By raising awareness and providing opportunities, we can ensure that more women bring their unique skills to the table, ultimately benefiting the entire sports community. I invite you to read the full article to learn more about this important issue: https://lnkd.in/eWyqhVAt #LeadershipInSports #WomenInCoaching #DiversityAndInclusion #BeachVolleyball #Mentorship #HolisticCoaching

It is good to see the increasing profile of women's sports, which includes rugby. However, this article highlights the increased risks of brain injury that comes with professionalisation and increased participation in women's rugby. #braininjury #TBI

It is good to see the increasing profile of women's sports, which includes rugby. However, this article highlights the increased risks of brain injury that comes with professionalisation and increased participation in women's rugby. #braininjury #TBI

"Helping to grow female participation in our national sport is a key ambition for Sport England as we strive to ensure everyone has the same opportunities to be more active, regardless of their background, gender, income or postcode." Sport England's funding has ensured that the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 has created a lasting legacy and contributed to some hugely positive outcomes for the women’s and girls’ game at a community level. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ecJK2HYV #SportEngland | #UnitingTheMovement

The EU Sport Forum will take place on 16 and 17 April 2024 in Liège, Belgium. On the second day there is an high-level panel on the agenda: Dialogue on new perspectives for the European football ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dpG9Dyg7 Looking forward to the conclusions... #FFAR #sportsbusiness #footballregulation #sportslaw #footballLaw #football #FootballBusiness #footballnews #footballagent #footballbusiness #fifa #uefa #eu EFAA (European Football Agents Association) The Football Forum (the international association of football agents + players) Professional Football Agents Association

Yet another sporting body going with the copy paste ruling on transgender women competing in female sport. Firstly let’s address the simple fact. I’m not a cricket fan but last time I checked it wasn’t really a contact sport. Regardless let’s look at the implications this rule change will cause. Normally a stadium has an home, away and officials changing rooms. If a transgender woman were brave enough to compete in men’s cricket, where would they change? Why do organisations think it’s unacceptable for men to be present when women get changed but feel it’s acceptable for a transgender woman to get changed in front of men? As these organisations are forcing transgender sports women back into men’s events. Are they planning for the men’s team players to wear kit that informs spectators that they’re gay, bi-sexual, have erectile dysfunction, impotent or have a drinking or aggression issue? No, but it’s fine in the light of fairness to put a transgender player through this by forcing them into competing in a gender class they don’t identify with. Finally, puberty blockers are banned to children only prescribed currently in exceptional circumstances. There is also a major backlog of patients all who will enter puberty before being prescribe this medication. There by making it impossible to ever compete in nearly any sport in the gender that matches their identity. https://lnkd.in/eeKRzuBV

Heads-up: it’s not just the Opening Ceremony of the Games that has men pretending to be women. This article describes the current sitation regarding trans-identifying males in various sports. As reported separately (in Reduxx), there will be at least two TIMs competing in women’s boxing: Algeria's Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting. Notably, they were both disqualified from The Women’s World Boxing Championships last year, after tests, for "trying to fool their colleagues and pretend to be women”. However the IOC is run by soft-headed, weak-willed men so somehow they’re able to compete with women in the Games. I’d naively thought that boxing of all sports would draw a hard red line. But here we are. It’s no longer just cheating but exposing women to unnecessary risk to appease a very vocal and pushy minority group. I look back with a certain fondness at Games from the 1970s/1980s, when cheats from the Eastern Bloc at least had the decency to cheat discreetly. There’s a principle that says “If you’re going to lie, tell a lie so huge that people will think it must be true because it’s too big to be a lie”. I think the same mind trick is being used here. https://lnkd.in/dkrsWp72

📺 🏅 We're watching the 2024 Olympics! Anyone else bouncing between 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, kayaking and more?? On one hand, the Games are a celebration of diversity. Athletes from every corner of the globe come together to showcase their talents, representing a mosaic of cultures, identities, and experiences. This is a powerful reminder that sports can break down barriers and foster understanding among different communities. There are a record 191 openly 🌈 LGBTQ+ Olympians! It's inspiring to see how the Olympic stage as a platform for promoting inclusivity and equality. 🌟🏅 However, alongside this progress, we must also confront the realities of xenophobia and bias that have emerged. From the misguided criticism of the opening ceremonies (https://lnkd.in/dA3XSXmt) to misogyny and sexism seeping into event commentary (https://lnkd.in/dpDS2nJz), there remain ever-present obstacles to our core values of respect and unity. This is a reminder that our work towards inclusivity is ongoing and that we must remain vigilant against bias. Keep up the good work, folks! How you talk about these Games will send a message about the culture you are working to create. 🌐🤝 #Olympics2024 #DiversityAndInclusion #GlobalUnity #LGBTQRepresentation #CelebrateDiversity #EducateAgainstBias

🌟 For International Women's Day 2024, we want to highlight the incredible women who work here at Support Warehouse. Meet Shauna, our proud sponsored member from our Finance Team who currently plays for the Women’s Warrington Wolves rugby team.   We asked Shauna some questions about her experiences being a woman in rugby and how it has impacted her life.   When asked about the level of support and investment in women's sports compared to men's sports, Shauna remarked, “The investment into women’s sports has definitely gained momentum. This year, in particular, I’ve noticed a fantastic surge in clubs backing women’s sports. It’s an exciting time to be involved!”   Shauna also highlighted the impact of increased visibility and coverage of women's sports on younger generations, stating, “The Challenge Cup semi-finals and finals have significantly boosted the visibility of the sport, reaching audiences worldwide. Viewing our sport on platforms like Sky is incredibly positive and demonstrates to younger generations that rugby league can be a career, not just a hobby!”   Although progress is being made in the exposure and investment of women’s sports teams, there is still a long way to go to ensure that every athlete, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities to succeed.   #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2024 #WomenInSports #GenderEquality #DiversityAndInclusion